Work

Search for exotic short-range interactions using paramagnetic insulators

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: We describe a proposed experimental search for exotic spin-coupled interactions using a solid-state paramagnetic insulator. The experiment is sensitive to the net magnetization induced by the exotic interaction between the unpaired insulator electrons with a dense, nonmagnetic mass in close proximity. An existing experiment has been used to set limits on the electric dipole moment of the electron by probing the magnetization induced in a cryogenic gadolinium gallium garnet sample on application of a strong electric field. With suitable additions, including a movable source mass, this experiment can be used to explore ``monopole-dipole'' forces on polarized electrons with unique or unprecedented sensitivity. The solid-state, nonmagnetic construction, combined with the low-noise conditions and extremely sensitive magnetometry available at cryogenic temperatures could lead to a sensitivity over 10 orders of magnitude greater than exiting limits in the range below 1 mm.

Source: Physical review. D. Particles, fields, gravitation, and cosmology/Physical review. D. Particles and fields

DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.91.102006

Authors: P.-H. Chu, E. Weisman, C.-Y. Liu, J. C. Long

Institutions: Los Alamos National Laboratory, Duke University, Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana University

Language: English

Topic: Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, Duke University, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Awards: High-Frequency Search for New Sub-Millimeter Range Forces, Experimental Nuclear Physics and Fundamental Interactions at Indiana University