Constraining spacetime nonmetricity with neutron spin rotation inliquid He-4

摘要

General spacetime nonmetricity coupled to neutrons is studied. In this context, it is shown that certain nonmetricity components can generate a rotation of the neutron's spin. Available data on this effect obtained from slow-neutron propagation in liquid helium are used to constrain isotropic nonmetricity components at the level of 10-22GeV. These results represent the first limit on the nonmetricity.(6) 2S000parameter as well as the first measurement of nonmetricity inside matter. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.