Search for an electric charge of the neutron

2018

The electrical neutrality of the neutron is linked to the electric charge quantization. It is not understood yet if the electric charge is quantized or not. Since the discovery of the neutron, many attempts have been made to measure its electric charge ${q}_{n}$ directly and indirectly. We present a method to search for a possible ${q}_{n}$ by means of an optical setup using ultracold neutrons. In a first run, a statistical sensitivity of $\ensuremath{\delta}{q}_{n}=2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}20}\text{ }\text{ }e/\sqrt{\mathrm{day}}$ is achieved. Possible improvements to increase this sensitivity down to $\ensuremath{\delta}{q}_{n}\ensuremath{\approx}1\ifmmode\…