Search for Monopole-Dipole Interactions at the Submillimeter Range with a ^{129}Xe-^{131}Xe-Rb Comagnetometer

Area of Science:

• Experimental physics
• Particle physics
• Atomic physics

Background:

• Scalar couplings between spins and massive particles can mediate P- and T-symmetry violating interactions, potentially involving axions.
• Atomic comagnetometers offer sensitive probes for detecting such exotic interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To search for axion-mediated monopole-dipole interactions by measuring the ratio of precession frequencies of ^{129}Xe and ^{131}Xe isotopes.
• To improve experimental limits on the coupling strength of axions to nucleons.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a ^{129}Xe-^{131}Xe-Rb atomic cell comagnetometer to measure isotope precession frequency ratios.
• Correlated frequency ratio changes with the distance to a bismuth germanate crystal to probe interactions.
• Employed a modulated Rb polarization scheme to significantly suppress systematic effects.

Main Results:

• Achieved null results in the search for axion-mediated interactions.
• Improved upper limits on the coupling strength g_{s}^{N}g_{p}^{n} by up to a factor of 30 in the interaction range of 0.11-0.55 mm.
• Excluded a new propagator mass range of 0.36-1.80 meV for axions.

Conclusions:

• The experiment sets new, stringent constraints on axion properties and their interactions with matter.
• This work advances the search for new physics beyond the Standard Model using precision atomic measurements.