Sensitivity reach of the neutron EDM experiment: The electric field strength

R. Hennings-Yeomans, M. Cooper, S. A. Currie, M. F. Makela, J. C. Ramsey, S. Tajima, T. L. Womack, J. C. Long, S. Stanislaus

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron tests physics beyond the Standard Model such as new sources of CP-violation and Supersymmetry. The nEDM experiment aims to improve the sensitivity on the current limit of the electric dipole moment of the neutron to <10-27eṡcm. The experiment will use a flux of Ultra Cold Neutrons (UCNs) produced and stored in a bath of superfluid He-II. A change in precession frequency is expected for a non-zero EDM when an electric field is applied parallel and antiparallel to a magnetic field across the neutron storage cell. A dominant parameter in terms of reducing the statistical uncertainty of this measurement is the strength of the applied electric field. An experiment to measure if superfluid He-II can sustain up to 50 kV/cm for a volume and electrode spacings comparable to the nEDM experiment has been constructed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. It consists in a large-area parallel plate capacitor immersed in a 200 liter central volume inside a suitable cryostat that in turn is connected to a dilution refrigerator unit. A description of test runs and the status of the experiment is presented.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationVIII Latin American Symposium on Nuclear Physics and Applications, LASNPA
Pages334-339
Number of pages6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
Event8th Latin American Symposium on Nuclear Physics and Applications, LASNPA - Santiago, Chile
Duration: Dec 15 2009Dec 19 2009

Publication series

NameAIP Conference Proceedings
Volume1265
ISSN (Print)0094-243X
ISSN (Electronic)1551-7616

Conference

Conference8th Latin American Symposium on Nuclear Physics and Applications, LASNPA
Country/TerritoryChile
CitySantiago
Period12/15/0912/19/09

Keywords

  • Dielectric properties
  • Instrumentation
  • Liquid helium
  • Superfluid helium (He-II)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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