Translation of time-reversal violation in the neutral K-meson system into a table-top mechanical system
Andreas Reiser, Klaus R. Schubert, Jürgen Stiewe
Weak interactions break time-reversal (T) symmetry in the two-state system of neutral K mesons. We present and discuss a two-state mechanical system, a Foucault-type pendulum on a rotating table, for a full representation of K0 K0bar transitions by the pendulum motions including T violation. The pendulum moves with two different oscillation frequencies and two different magnetic dampings. Its equation of motion is identical with the differential equation for the real part of the CPT-symmetric K-meson wave function. The pendulum is able to represent microscopic CP and T violation with CPT symmetry owing to the macroscopic Coriolis force which breaks the symmetry under reversal-of-motion. Video clips of the pendulum motions are shown as supplementary material.
arXiv:1203.4703•Journal of Physics G Nuclear and Particle Physics•Jun 12, 2012•6 citations