Neutron Electron Interaction in the Neutron Interferometer

01.02.2006 - 31.12.2010
Forschungsförderungsprojekt
The neutron consists of three charged quarks and has therefore a nontrivial charge distribution. The second moment of the charge distribution is called charge radius, it is accessible from the neutron-electron interaction process which is characterized by the neutron-electron scattering length b_ne . Because of the absence of neutron targets, it is the neutron scattering on atomic electrons that provides a possibility for an experimental determination of b_ne . We propose an alternative method which directly yields b_ne of a light silicon atom instead of the total cross sections of heavy atoms. Our technique employs a perfect silicon crystal interferometer whose lattice structure and atomic density is known with high accuracy. The proposed neutron interferometry method is extremely sensitive to a precise determination of the neutron-electron scattering length and it is to a high degree free of systematic uncertainties. The knowledge of b_ne and the neutron¿s charge radius has an impact on a broad range of topics, which vary from the modelling of the internal quark structure in quantum chromodynamics, to the determination of the slope of the electric form factor at zero momentum transfer, and the verification of the Dirac-Pauli model for the neutron in an external electromagnetic field.

Personen

Projektleiter_in

Projektmitarbeiter_innen

Institut

Grant funds

  • FWF - Österr. Wissenschaftsfonds (National) Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

Forschungsschwerpunkte

  • Quantum Metrology and Precision Measurements: 80%
  • Materials Characterization: 20%

Schlagwörter

DeutschEnglisch
Neutroneninterferometryneutron interferometry
Neutron-Elektron Streuungneutron-electron scattering
PrismenablenkungPrism deflection
Große Perfektkristall-Neutroneninterferometerlarge perfect crystal interferometer

Publikationen