M. G. D. van der Grinten

Improved Experimental Limit on the Electric Dipole Moment of the Neutron

An experimental search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron has been carried out at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble. Spurious signals from magnetic-field fluctuations were reduced to insignificance by the use of a cohabiting atomic-mercury magnetometer. Systematic uncertainties, including geometric-phase-induced false EDMs, have been carefully studied. The results may be interpreted as an upper limit on the neutron EDM of |dn|

Revised experimental upper limit on the electric dipole moment of the neutron

We present for the first time a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the experimental results that set the current world sensitivity limit on the magnitude of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron. We have extended and enhanced our earlier analysis to include recent developments in the understanding of the effects of gravity in depolarizing ultracold neutrons; an improved calculation of the spectrum of the neutrons; and conservative estimates of other possible systematic errors, which are also shown to be consistent with more recent measurements undertaken with the apparatus. We obtain a net result of dn=−0.21±1.82×10−26  e cm, which may be interpreted as a slightly revised upper limit on the magnitude of the EDM of 3.0×10−26  e cm (90% C.L.) or 3.6×10−26  e cm (95% C.L.).

Performance of an atomic mercury magnetometer in the neutron EDM experiment

Abstract Previous measurements of the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron have been limited by the systematic effect of changes in the magnetic environment. In this paper we report the performance of a newly-developed “cohabiting” magnetometer based upon measurements of the nuclear precession frequency of free mercury atoms that occupy the same volume as the neutrons. We find that we are able to observe changes as small as 10 −9 G in the volume-averaged magnetic field, allowing us to reduce the systematic errors in the EDM experiment by more than an order of magnitude in comparison with previous measurements.

Development of solid-state silicon devices as ultra cold neutron detectors

We present a study aimed at developing and optimising methods for ultra-cold neutron (UCN) detection using solid-state silicon detectors. For this we investigated the characteristics of neutron to charged particle converters (6Li, 10B) and compared different deposition techniques. We find that a deposition of 600 μg/cm2 of 6LiF is required to ensure maximum UCN detection efficiency using 6Li as converter. The UCN detectors that we have developed are now fully operational as a flux monitor and as a UCN spectrum analyser in the neutron electric dipole moment experiment at the Institut Laue Langevin in Grenoble.

Test of Lorentz invariance with spin precession of ultracold neutrons

A clock comparison experiment, analyzing the ratio of spin precession frequencies of stored ultracold neutrons and 199Hg atoms, is reported. No daily variation of this ratio could be found, from which is set an upper limit on the Lorentz invariance violating cosmic anisotropy field b perpendicular < 2 x 10(-20) eV (95% C.L.). This is the first limit for the free neutron. This result is also interpreted as a direct limit on the gravitational dipole moment of the neutron |gn| < 0.3 eV/c2 m from a spin-dependent interaction with the Sun. Analyzing the gravitational interaction with the Earth, based on previous data, yields a more stringent limit |gn| < 3 x 10(-4) eV/c2 m.

Characterization and development of diamond-like carbon coatings for storing ultracold neutrons

In order to determine the suitability of diamond-like carbon (DLC) as a material for storing ultracold neutrons to use in neutron electric-dipole moment (EDM) experiments, a number of tests on DLC coatings have been performed. Thin DLC layers deposited on quartz and aluminium substrates by chemical vapour deposition have been characterised by neutron transmission, neutron reflectometry, electron microscopy and neutron and mercury storage and depolarisation lifetime measurements. Two types of DLC have been compared; DLC made by chemical vapour deposition from natural methane and DLC made by chemical vapour deposition from deuterated methane. With these samples we determined the density, hydrogen concentration and Fermi potential of the coatings. DLC coatings made from deuterated methane are now succesfully being used in an experiment to measure the EDM of the neutron.

Apparatus for measurement of the electric dipole moment of the neutron using a cohabiting atomic-mercury magnetometer

A description is presented of apparatus used to carry out an experimental search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron, at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble. The experiment incorporated a cohabiting atomic-mercury magnetometer in order to reduce spurious signals from magnetic field fluctuations. The result has been published in an earlier letter [1]; here, the methods and equipment used are discussed in detail.

Reply to Comment on An Improved Experimental Limit on the Electric Dipole Moment of the Neutron

An experimental search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron has been carried out at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble. Spurious signals from magnetic-field fluctuations were reduced to insignificance by the use of a cohabiting atomic-mercury magnetometer. Systematic uncertainties, including geometric-phase-induced false EDMs, have been carefully studied. The results may be interpreted as an upper limit on the neutron EDM of |d(n)|< 2.9 x 10(-26)e cm (90% C.L.).

“aspect” – a new spectrometer for the measurement of the angular correlation coefficient a in neutron beta decay

The combination of the coefficient a of the antineutrino/electron angular correlation with the beta asymmetry of the neutron provides a sensitive test for scalar and tensor contributions to the electroweak Lagrangian, as well as for right-handed currents. A method is given for measuring a with high sensitivity from the proton recoil spectrum. The method is based on a magnetic spectrometer with electrostatic retardation potentials such as used for searches of the neutrino mass in tritium beta decay. The spectrometer can also be used for similar studies using radioactive nuclei.

A measurement of the neutron to 199Hg magnetic moment ratio

The neutron gyromagnetic ratio has been measured relative to that of the 199Hg atom with an uncertainty of 0.8 ppm. We employed an apparatus where ultracold neutrons and mercury atoms are stored in the same volume and report the result γn/γHg=3.8424574(30).