ng periods of several minutes. Just to illustrate the degree of precision involved in the experiment: “We have to balance out even tiny changes in the magnetic field, which can even come about if a lorry drives past on the nearby road, for instance,” explains Schmidt-Wellenburg.
All this is necessary to determine the neutron’s electric dipole moment with greater precision than ever. The last experiment to measure this factor to date was published in 2006. However, the result from back then is still too unprecise to draw any conclusions regarding the origins of the universe from it. Since then, there has been a lack of methods for a more accurate measurement. “Now we’ve plugged this gap with our adapted spin-echo method for ultra-cold neutrons,” says Schmidt-Wellenburg.
Measurements of ultra-cold neutrons using the new method have been underway at PSI since August 2015. The institute boasts one of the most intense sources of ultra-cold neutrons in the world. The local long-term experiment will have to continue for about another year to obtain the amount of data needed to determine the neutron’s electric dipole moment more precisely than in previous measurements. “Hopefully, one day we will then be able to explain why our universe is made up of so much matter – in other words, why all the matter and antimatter failed to destroy each other shortly after the Big Bang,” says Klaus Kirch, Head of the Laboratory of Particle Physics at PSI.
The new spin-echo method with ultra-cold neutrons can also be used for other fundamental experiments, such as measuring the lifespan of neutrons more accurately. “I dare say that our new method will be used in many experiments with ultra-cold neutrons in the next twenty years,” ventures Schmidt-Wellenburg.
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute’s own key research priorities are in the fields of matter and materials, energy and environment and human health. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 1900 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 380 million.
(Last updated on April 2015)
Dr. Philipp Schmidt-Wellenburg, Laboratory for Particle Physics, Paul Scherrer Institute,
telephone: +41 56 310 56 80, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
Prof. Dr. Klaus Kirch, Laboratory for Particle Physics, Paul Scherrer Institute,
telephone: +41 56 310 32 78, e-mail: email@example.com
Observation of gravitationally induced vertical striation of polarized ultracold neutrons by spin-echo spectroscopy
S. Afach, N.J. Ayres, G. Ban, G. Bison, K. Bodek, Z. Chowdhuri, M. Daum, M. Fertl, B. Franke, W.C. Griffith, Z.D. Grujic, P.G. Harris, W. Heil, V. Hélaine, M. Kasprzak, Y. Kermaidic, K. Kirch, P. Knowles, H.-C. Koch, S. Komposch, A. Kozela, J. Krempel, B. Lauss, T. Lefort, Y. Lemière, A. Mtchedlishvili, M. Musgrave, O. Naviliat-Cuncic, J.M. Pendlebury, F.M. Piegsa, G. Pignol, C. Plonka-Spehr, P.N. Prashanth, G. Quéméner, M. Rawlik, D. Rebreyend, D. Ries, S. Roccia, D. Rozpedzik, P. Schmidt-Wellenburg, N. Severijns, J.A. Thorne, A. Weis, E. Wursten, G. Wyszynski, J. Zejma, J. Zenner, and G. Zsigmond,
Physical Review Letters 2 October 2015