Symmetry Violation Searches with Neutrons

Neutrons are a great tool for fundamental property investigations, such as symmetries. Within this context they are a complementary probe to the standard models of particle physics and cosmology as compared to the high energy frontier.

Parity violation can well be studied in the weak interaction, for example through beta decay correlations and neutron lifetime. The free neutron lifetime on the other hand also affects bigbang nuclesynthesys.

Additionally, time reversal symmetry violation (and thus CP symmetry by assuming CPT to be a good symmetry of nature) can be studied through the search for a permanent neutron electric dipole moment. Through this portal, neutrons also offer a handle on the Baryon Asymmetry of the Universe, and thus beyond standard model physics. Other high precision experiements with neutrons can also assess the strong CP problem by searching for beyond standard model interactions coupling through eg axions, axionlike particles, or other dark matter candidates.

This presentation shall give an overview of the field and serve as introduction to the topics covered in this session. Different experimental techniques and their properties will briefly be presented, covering fundamental neutron physics as well as aspects from the hadronic sector.