Weak nucleon interaction and nuclear structure

The review discusses the current status of the problem of nuclear forces that do not conserve parity. The following experimentally observed effects of these forces are considered: (1) alpha decay absolutely forbidden by the law of parity conservation; (2) angular asymmetry of the photons emitted by polarized nuclei; and (3) circular polarization of the photons emitted by non-polarized nuclei. Various models of weak interaction leading to the non-conservation of parity in nucleon interaction are discussed. The influence of effects associated with nuclear structure, both short-range and long-range correlations, on the weak interaction of nucleons has been observed. The author discusses phenomena that enhance the effects of the weak interaction of nucleons in nuclei. A number of experiments are suggested for the investigation of nuclear forces that do not conserve parity. The possible isotopic structure of these forces is discussed. (author)