https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-021-09888-x
Regular Article - Theoretical Physics
Neutron interferometry, fifth force and axion like particles
1
Dipartimento di Fisica “E.R. Caianiello”, Università di Salerno, and INFN-Gruppo Collegato di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
2
Institut Ruder Bošković, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
Received:
31
August
2021
Accepted:
27
November
2021
Published online:
18
December
2021
We propose a new possible detection strategy to reveal the fermion–fermion interaction mediated by axions and axion-like particles, based on interferometric measurement of neutron beams. We consider an interferometer in which the neutron beam is split in two sub-beams propagating in regions with differently oriented magnetic fields. The beam paths and the strength of the magnetic fields are set in such a way that the phase difference depends only on the axion-induced interaction. The resulting phase difference is directly related to the presence of axions. Our results show that such a phase might represent, in the future, a tool to probe the existence of axions and axion-like particles or a fifth force with interferometry.
© The Author(s) 2021
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