Speaker
Description
The detection of a neutron electric dipole moment with a magnitude larger than the Standard Model prediction would imply the existence of new physics. Currently, the limit is set at 1.8×10−26 e cm (90% C.L.) by a technique employing the storage of ultra cold neutrons. The PanEDM experiment installed at Institut Laue-Langevin is the first to use the new ultra cold neutron source, SuperSUN, and aims to improve the limit by an order of magnitude.
Such an improvement implies extending the statistical reach and strongly suppressing and characterising the systematic effects. To take full advantage of the ultra cold neutron source output, the neutron transport from the source to the experiment needs to be optimized. One way of doing this is by using nickel-phosphorus (89.5/10.5) (NiP) as a neutron guide coating, as it has a high optical potential, it is non-magnetic and exhibits low roughness if deposited through electroless deposition.
The characterization of the NiP was done using profilometry, atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectometry. The control of the systematics will be done using an array of optically pumped Hg magnetometers, and is being commissioned
