Probing "long-range" neutrino-mediated forces with atomic and nuclear spectroscopy

Understand

The exchange of a pair of low-mass neutrinos between electrons, protons and neutrons produces a "long-range" $1/r^5$ potential, which can be sought for in phenomena originating on the atomic and sub-atomic length scales.

• We calculate the effects of neutrino-pair exchange on transition and binding energies in atoms and nuclei.
• In the case of atomic s-wave states, there is a large enhancement of the induced energy shifts due to the lack of a centrifugal barrier and the highly singular nature of the neutrino-mediated potential.
• We derive limits on neutrino-mediated forces from measurements of the deuteron binding energy and transition energies in positronium, muonium, hydrogen and deuterium, as well as isotope-shift measurements in calcium ions.