A search for possible long range spin dependent interactions of the neutron from exotic vector boson exchange

• Published in: Physics letters. B 2018-08, Vol.783 (C), p.227-233
• Main Authors: Haddock, C., Amadio, J., Anderson, E., Barrón-Palos, L., Crawford, B., Crawford, C., Esposito, D., Fox, W., Francis, I., Fry, J., Gardiner, H., Holley, A., Korsak, K., Lieffers, J., Magers, S., Maldonado-Velázquez, M., Mayorov, D., Nico, J.S., Okudaira, T., Paudel, C., Santra, S., Sarsour, M., Shimizu, H.M., Snow, W.M., Sprow, A., Steffen, K., Swanson, H.E., Tovesson, F., Vanderwerp, J., Yergeau, P.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fundamental symmetries; Neutron; NSR; WISP
• ISSN: 0370-2693; 1873-2445
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2018.06.066

We present a search for possible spin dependent interactions of the neutron with matter through exchange of spin 1 bosons with axial vector couplings as envisioned in possible extensions of the Standard Model. This was sought using a slow neutron polarimeter that passed transversely polarized slow neutrons by unpolarized slabs of material arranged so that interactions would tilt the plane of polarization and develop a component along the neutron momentum. The result for the rotation angle, ϕ′=[2.8±4.6(stat.)±4.0(sys.)]×10−5 rad/m is consistent with zero. This result improves the upper bounds on the neutron-matter coupling gA2 by about three orders of magnitude for force ranges in the mm– μm regime.