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arXiv · 1009.3434

Polarized 3He as a probe for short-range spin-dependent interactions

Abstract

We have studied the relaxation of a spin-polarized gas in a magnetic field, in the presence of short-range spin-dependent interactions. As a main result we have established a link between the specific properties of the interaction and the dependence of the spin-relaxation rate on the magnitude of the holding magnetic field. This allows us to formulate a new, extremely sensitive method to study (pseudo-) magnetic properties at the sub-millimeter scale, which are difficult to access by other means. The method has been used as a probe for nucleon-nucleon axion-like P,T violating interactions which yields a two-order-of-magnitude improved constraint on the coupling strength ($g_s g_p$) as a function of the force range ($\lambda$): $g_s g_p \lambda^2 < 3 \times 10^{-27}$ m$^2$.

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A. K. Petukhov, G. Pignol, D. Jullien, K. Andersen. 2010-09-17. Polarized 3He as a probe for short-range spin-dependent interactions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.105.170401

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