Measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment via spin rotation in a non-centrosymmetric crystal

TL;DR

This paper reports a measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment using spin rotation in a non-centrosymmetric crystal, achieving a new sensitivity level and outlining improvements for future precision.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental approach to measure the neutron EDM with enhanced sensitivity and discusses technical requirements for reducing systematic uncertainties.

Findings

Measured neutron EDM as (2.5 ± 6.5(stat) ± 5.5(syst)) × 10^{-24} e·cm

Statistical sensitivity can be improved to 2 × 10^{-26} e·cm with 100 days of data

Systematic uncertainties are primarily statistical and reducible with better data collection

Abstract

We have measured the neutron electric dipole moment using spin rotation in a non-centrosymmetric crystal. Our result is d_n = (2.5 +- 6.5(stat) +- 5.5(syst)) 10^{-24} e cm. The dominating contribution to the systematic uncertainty is statistical in nature and will reduce with improved statistics. The statistical sensitivity can be increased to 2 10^{-26} e cm in 100 days data taking with an improved setup. We state technical requirements for a systematic uncertainty at the same level.