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Title: Search for exotic spin-dependent interactions with a spin-exchange relaxation-free magnetometer

Journal Article · · Physical Review D

We propose a novel experimental approach to explore exotic spin-dependent interactions using a spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) magnetometer, the most sensitive noncryogenic magnetic-field sensor. This approach studies the interactions between optically polarized electron spins located inside a vapor cell of the SERF magnetometer and unpolarized or polarized particles of external solid-state objects. The coupling of spin-dependent interactions to the polarized electron spins of the magnetometer induces the tilt of the electron spins, which can be detected with high sensitivity by a probe laser beam similarly as an external magnetic field. Lastly, we estimate that by moving unpolarized or polarized objects next to the SERF Rb vapor cell, the experimental limit to the spin-dependent interactions can be significantly improved over existing experiments, and new limits on the coupling strengths can be set in the interaction range below 10–2 m.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC). Nuclear Physics (NP) (SC-26); USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1343701
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1294726
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-23942; PRVDAQ; TRN: US1701719
Journal Information:
Physical Review D, Vol. 94, Issue 3; ISSN 2470-0010
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Constraining Exotic Interactions journal December 2018
Experimental limit on an exotic parity-odd spin- and velocity-dependent interaction using an optically polarized vapor journal May 2019
Constraining exotic interactions text January 2018
Experimental limit on an exotic parity-odd spin- and velocity-dependent interaction using an optically polarized vapor text January 2019