New Concept for a Neutron Electric Dipole Moment Search using a Pulsed Beam

Abstract

A concept to search for a neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) is presented, which employs a pulsed neutron beam instead of the nowadays established use of storable ultracold neutrons (UCN). The technique takes advantage of the high peak flux and the time structure of a next-generation pulsed spallation source like the planned European Spallation Source. It is demonstrated that the sensitivity for a nEDM can be improved by several orders of magnitude compared to the best beam experiments performed in the 1970's and can compete with the sensitivity of UCN experiments.