Search

Spin-dependent exotic interactions can be generated by exchanging hypothetical bosons, which were introduced to solve some puzzles in physics. Many precision experiments have been performed to search for such interactions, but no confirmed observation has been made. Here, we propose new experiments to search for the exotic spin-spin interactions that can be mediated by axions or Z$^\prime$ bosons. A sensitive functionalized cantilever is utilized as a force sensor to measure the interactions between the spin-polarized electrons in a periodic magnetic source structure and a closed-loop magnetic structure integrated on the cantilever. The source is set to oscillate during data acquisition to modulate the exotic force signal to high harmonics of the oscillating frequency. This helps to suppress the spurious signals at the signal frequency. Different magnetic source structures are designed for different interaction detections. A magnetic stripe structure is designed for Z$^\prime$-mediated interaction, which is insensitive to the detection of axion-mediated interaction. This allows us to measure the coupling constant of both if we assume both exist. With the force sensitivity achievable at low temperature, the proposed experiments are expected to search for the parameter spaces with much smaller coupling constant than the current stringent constraints from micrometer to millimeter range. Specifically, the lower bound of the parameter space will be seven orders of magnitude lower than the stringent constraints for Z$^\prime$-mediated interaction, and an order of magnitude lower for axion-mediated interaction, at the interaction range of $10\, \mu$m., Comment: 10 papers, 9 figures

Exotic spin-dependent interactions may be generated by exchanging hypothetical bosons that have been proposed to solve some mysteries in physics by theories beyond the standard model of particle physics. The search for such interactions can be conducted by tabletop scale experiments using high precision measurement techniques. Here we report an experiment to explore the parity-odd interaction between moving polarized electrons and unpolarized nucleons using a magnetic force microscope. The polarized electrons are provided by the magnetic tip at the end of a silicon cantilever, and their polarizations are approximately magnetized in the plane of the magnetic coating on the tip. A periodic structure with alternative gold and silicon dioxide stripes provides unpolarized nucleons with periodic number density modulation. The exotic forces are expected to change the oscillation amplitude of the cantilever which is measured by a fiber laser interferometer. Data has been taken by scanning the tip over the nucleon source structure at constant separation, and no exotic signal related to the density modulation has been observed. Thus, the experiment sets a limit on the electron-nucleon coupling constant, $g_A^eg_V^N\leq 9\times 10^{-15}$ for 15 $\mu$m $\le \lambda \le$ 180 $\mu$m, using a direct force measurement method., Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures

We report an experimental test of non-Newtonian gravitational forces at mi- crometer range. To experimentally subtract off the Casimir force and the electrostatic force background, differential force measurements were performed by sensing the lateral force between a gold sphere and a density modulated source mass using a soft cantilever. The current sensitivity is limited by the patch electrostatic force, which is further improved by two dimensional (2D) force mapping. The preliminary result sets a model independent constraint on the Yukawa type force at this range., Comment: Presented at the Seventh Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, June 20-24, 2016

We have measured the transport properties of Ferromagnet - Superconductor nanostructures, where two superconducting aluminum (Al) electrodes are connected through two ferromagnetic iron (Fe) ellipsoids in parallel. We find that, below the superconducting critical temperature of Al, the resistance depends on the relative alignment of the ferromagnets' magnetization. This spin-valve effect is analyzed in terms of spin accumulation in the superconducting electrode submitted to inverse proximity effect.

We demonstrate the combination of scanning force microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy in a local probe microscope operating at very low temperature (60 mK). This local probe uses a quartz tuning fork ensuring high tunnel junction stability. We performed the spatially-resolved spectroscopic study of a superconducting nano-circuit patterned on an insulating substrate. Significant deviations from the BCS prediction are observed., Comment: 4 pages