On the feasibility of atomic-beam resonance experiment sensitive to the nuclear-spin-dependent weak neutral current interaction

The possibility of using highly sensitive beam resonance methods to detect the nuclear-spin-dependent part of the weak neutral electron-nucleon interaction is discussed. In principle this can be achieved by inducing transitions with simultaneously applied electric and magnetic RF fields. However, no atom satisfies the criteria for optimum sensitivity and as a result the best experiment may only be marginally feasible. It is argued that the importance of the problem justifies further detailed calculations. (author)