Test of Lorentz Invariance with Spin Precession of Ultracold Neutrons

Altarev, I; Baker, CA; Ban, G; Bison, G; Bodek, K; Daum, M; Fierlinger, P; Geltenbort, P; Green, K; van der Grinten, MGD; Gutsmiedl, E; Harris, PG; Heil, W; Henneck, R; Horras, M; Iadjiev, P; Ivanov, SN; Khomutov, N; Kirch, K; Kistryn, S; Knecht, A; Knowles, P; Kozela, A; Kuchler, F; Kuzniak, M; Lauer, T; Lauss, B; Lefort, T; Mtchedlishvili, A; Naviliat-Cuncic, O; Pazgalev, A; Pendlebury, JM; Petzoldt, G; Pierre, E; Pignol, G; Quemener, G; Rebetez, M; Rebreyend, D; Roccia, S; Gorel, G; Severijns, Natalis; Shiers, D; Sobolev, Yu; Weiss, A; Zejma, J; Zsigmond, G

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.081602

Test of Lorentz Invariance with Spin Precession of Ultracold Neutrons

Author:

Altarev, I

Baker, CA ; Ban, G ; Bison, G ; Bodek, K ; Daum, M ; Fierlinger, P ; Geltenbort, P ; Green, K ; van der Grinten, MGD ; Gutsmiedl, E ; Harris, PG ; Heil, W ; Henneck, R ; Horras, M ; Iadjiev, P ; Ivanov, SN ; Khomutov, N ; Kirch, K ; Kistryn, S ; Knecht, A ; Knowles, P ; Kozela, A ; Kuchler, F ; Kuzniak, M ; Lauer, T ; Lauss, B ; Lefort, T ; Mtchedlishvili, A ; Naviliat-Cuncic, O ; Pazgalev, A ; Pendlebury, JM ; Petzoldt, G ; Pierre, E ; Pignol, G ; Quemener, G ; Rebetez, M ; Rebreyend, D ; Roccia, S ; Gorel, G ; Severijns, Natalis ; Shiers, D ; Sobolev, Yu ; Weiss, A ; Zejma, J ; Zsigmond, G

Keywords:

Lorentz invariance, ultracold neutrons, clock comparison, free neutron limit, Science & Technology, Physical Sciences, Physics, Multidisciplinary, Physics, ATOMIC MERCURY, EDM EXPERIMENT, CPT VIOLATION, MAGNETOMETERS, nucl-ex, 01 Mathematical Sciences, 02 Physical Sciences, 09 Engineering, General Physics, 40 Engineering, 49 Mathematical sciences, 51 Physical sciences

Abstract:

A clock comparison experiment, analyzing the ratio of spin precession frequencies of stored ultracold neutrons and 199Hg atoms, is reported. No daily variation of this ratio could be found, from which is set an upper limit on the Lorentz invariance violating cosmic anisotropy field b_orthogonal < 2 x 10^{-20} eV (95% C.L.). This is the first limit for the free neutron. This result is also interpreted as a direct limit on the gravitational dipole moment of the neutron |g_n| < 0.3 eV/c^2 m from a spin-dependent interaction with the Sun. Analyzing the gravitational interaction with the Earth, based on previous data, yields a more stringent limit |g_n| < 3 x 10^{-4} eV/c^2 m.