Relativistic effects in the search for new intra-atomic force with isotope shifts

Abstract

Isotope shift of atomic spectra is considered as a probe of new interaction between electrons and neutrons in atoms. We employ the method of seeking a breakdown of King's linearity in the isotope shifts of two atomic transitions. In the present work, we evaluate the magnitudes of the nonlinearity using relativistic wave functions and the result is compared with that of nonrelativistic wave functions from our previous work. It turns out that the nonrelativistic calculation underestimates the nonlinearity owing to the new interaction in the mass range of the mediator greater than 1 MeV. Further, we find that the nonlinearity within the standard model of particle physics is significantly magnified by the relativistic effect in the p1/2 state. To get rid of this obstacle in the new physics search, we suggest avoiding p1/2 and that e.g. p3/2 should be used instead.