Magnetometer for the Neutron Electric Dipole Moment Experiment

The neutron electric dipole moment experiment is a Department of Energy project that seeks to test the standard model of the electroweak and strong interactions within a nucleon by measuring the precession of neutrons in superimposed magnetic and electric fields. To achieve the desired sensitivity to a dipole moment, the magnetic field must be homogeneous to 1 part in one million. However, existing instruments lack the sensitivity needed for verifying the field¿s homogeneity and stability, and they are too bulky to fit in the shielded measurement region. This project will develop advanced instrumentation for precision magnetometry, based on novel atomic spectroscopy techniques. Phase I showed that an all-optical magnetometer head, measuring just a few centimeters in size, coupled to electronic controllers and read-out electronics by optical fibers, can achieve the precision, accuracy, and compactness required for the neutron electric dipole moment experiment. In Phase II, a complete system will be built, and its performance will be demonstrated in laboratory experiments. Finally, the system will be used to verify the performance of the magnetic field developed for the neutron electric dipole moment experiment. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the application to nuclear physics, commercial applications of magnetometers include instrumentation for geophysics and mineral exploration, buried object detection, and defense applications such as detection of improvised explosive devices and submarines. Emerging applications include low-field magnetic resonance imaging and medical diagnostics