Neutron experiments to search for new spin-dependent interactions

TL;DR

This paper explores neutron experiments designed to detect new short-range spin-dependent forces, analyzing potential effects like phase shifts, spin rotation, and beam deflection, and estimating their sensitivity.

Contribution

It proposes specific neutron experimental setups to search for novel spin-dependent interactions and evaluates their potential sensitivity, advancing methods for detecting new fundamental forces.

Findings

Neutron interferometry can detect phase shifts caused by spin-dependent forces.

Neutron spin rotation in pseudo-magnetic fields offers a sensitive probe.

Transverse deflection of polarized neutrons can reveal new interactions.

Abstract

The consideration is presented of possible neutron experiments to search for new short-range spin-dependent forces. The spin-dependent nucleon-nucleon interaction between neutron and nuclei may cause different effects: phase shift of a neutron wave in neutron interferometers of different kind, in particular of the Lloyd mirror configuration, neutron spin rotation in the pseudo-magnetic field, and transverse deflection of polarized neutron beam by a slab of substance. Estimates of sensitivity of these experiments are performed.