Constraints on Light Pseudoscalars Implied by Tests of the Gravitational Inverse-Square Law

Journal Article · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.3593· OSTI ID:692561

Fischbach, E; Krause, D E ^[1]; Krause, D E ^[2]

---

1. Physics Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1396 (United States)
2. Physics Department, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana 47933-0352 (United States)

The exchange of light pseudoscalars between fermions leads to a spin-independent potential in order g{sup 4} , where g is the Yukawa pseudoscalar-fermion coupling constant. This potential gives rise to detectable violations of both the weak equivalence principle (WEP) and the gravitational inverse-square law (ISL), even if g is quite small. We show that when previously derived WEP constraints are combined with those arising from ISL tests, a direct experimental limit on the Yukawa coupling of light pseudoscalars to neutrons can be inferred for the first time (g{sup 2}{sub n}/4{pi}{approx_lt}1.6{times}10{sup {minus}7} ), along with a new (and significantly improved) limit on the coupling of light pseudoscalars to protons. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 692561
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 18 Vol. 83; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
COUPLING CONSTANTS
GRAVITATION
NEUTRONS
PROTONS
PSEUDOSCALARS
YUKAWA POTENTIAL