# Measurement of the radial matrix elements for the $6s ^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow 7p ^2P_J$ transitions in cesium

## TL;DR

This paper precisely measures the electric dipole matrix elements for specific cesium transitions using absorption coefficient comparisons, providing data relevant to atomic parity nonconservation studies.

## Contribution

The study introduces a direct absorption comparison method to accurately determine cesium matrix elements for the 6s to 7p transitions, improving precision over previous measurements.

## Key findings

- Measured matrix elements: 0.57417(57) a_0 and 0.27810(45) a_0.
- Used absorption coefficient ratios for precise determination.
- Results inform parity nonconservation interpretations.

## Abstract

We report measurements of the electric dipole matrix elements of the $^{133}$Cs $\ $ $6s\,^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow 7p\,^2P_{1/2}$ and $6s\,^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow 7p\,^2P_{3/2}$ transitions. Each of these determinations is based on direct, precise comparisons of the absorption coefficients between two absorption lines. For the $\langle 6s\,^2S_{1/2}||r|| 7p\,^2P_{3/2} \rangle$ matrix element, we measure the ratio of the absorption coefficient on this line with that of the D$_1$ transition, $6s\,^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow 6p\,^2P_{1/2}$. The matrix element of the D$_1$ line has been determined with high precision previously by many groups. For the $\langle 6s\,^2S_{1/2}||r|| 7p\,^2P_{1/2} \rangle$ matrix element, we measure the ratio of the absorption coefficient on this line with that of the $6s\,^2S_{1/2} \rightarrow 7p\,^2P_{3/2}$ transition. Our results for these matrix elements are $\langle 6s\,^2S_{1/2}||r|| 7p\,^2P_{3/2} \rangle = 0.57417 \: (57)~a_0$ and $\langle 6s\,^2S_{1/2}||r|| 7p\,^2P_{1/2} \rangle = 0.27810 \: (45)~a_0$. These measurements have implications for the interpretation of parity nonconservation in atoms.