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Atomic Physics Constraints On The X Boson, Ulrich D. Jentschura, Istvan Nandori

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recently, a peak in the light fermion pair spectrum at invariant q)² ≈ (16.7MeV)² has been observed in the bombardment of ⁷Li by protons. This peak has been interpreted in terms of a protophobic interaction of fermions with a gauge boson (X boson) of invariant mass ≈16.7MeV which couples mainly to neutrons. High-precision atomic physics experiments aimed at observing the protophobic interaction need to separate the X boson effect from the nuclear-size effect, which is a problem because of the short range of the interaction (11.8 fm), which is commensurate with a "nuclear halo." Here we analyze …