Construction of a neutron guiding component (further called 'neutron switch') for an experiment to measure the electric dipole moment of the neutron at the Paul Scherrrer Institut (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christian Plonka-Spehr
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields
• Term: from 2010 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 167645081

With the development of new high intense sources for ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) the sensitivityof many experiments in fundamental neutron physics will be significantly improved. Most relevantamong them are projects on the search for a possible electric dipole moment of the neutron(nEDM). This is closely connected to CP violating processes of fundamental particles’ interactionsand the remaining of antimatter in the Universe directly after the Big Bang. The present upper limitfor an EDM of the neutron is 3:6 x 10-26 e.cm.The aim of the international nEDM collaboration is to increase the level of sensitivity on the nEDMby almost two orders of magnitude to 10-26 e.cm. At present, 15 institutes joined this collaboration,among those the UCN group of the University of Mainz.Presently, an nEDM experiment is being installed at the new UCN source of the Paul Scherrer Institut(PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland. One important component for the adaptation of the experimentto the source is the construction of a so-called neutron switch. The UCN group in Mainz takes thelead for the development and construction of this component within the collaboration.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1491: Precision Experiments in Particle- and Astrophysics with Cold and Ultracold Neutrons
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Participating Person: Dr. Bernhard Lauss