Researchers at NIST have developed a new technique using neutrons to study silicon crystals, revealing previously unknown properties and potentially uncovering a “fifth force” of nature. The technique, which measures the interaction of neutrons with silicon crystals, has provided the first measurement of a key neutron property in 20 years, the highest-precision measurements of heat-related vibrations in silicon crystals, and limits on the strength of a possible fifth force.
The technique works by aiming neutrons at silicon crystals and monitoring the resulting interference patterns. This provides detailed information about the crystal structure, which is crucial for understanding the electronic, mechanical, and magnetic properties of microchip components and novel nanomaterials for quantum computing applications.
The researchers found that the new pendellösung oscillation measurements provide a unique way to gauge the charge radius of the neutron, which is important for fundamental physics. The results also suggest that the nuclei and electrons in silicon crystals may not vibrate rigidly as previously assumed, providing new insights into how atoms interact within a crystal lattice.
The study improves constraints on the strength of a potential fifth force by tenfold over a specific range, narrowing the search for this hypothetical force. The researchers plan to continue their experiments with both silicon and germanium, aiming to further refine their measurements and potentially discover new insights into quantum mechanics and the nature of the universe.
Keywords: neutron, silicon, crystal, force, radius
