Peter Fierlinger Appointed as Speaker for nEDM Collaboration

Prof. Dr. Peter Fierlinger was appointed as spokesperson of the European nEDM Collaboration. Peter Fierlinger has been leading the Unverse Cluster’s research group “Fundamental Physics with Neutrons” since August 2008. 
The collaboration has been founded in 2004 and consists of 14 renowned institutions, including the Universe Cluster and Technische Universität München (TUM). It is dedicated to measure a special symmetry-breaking property in the neutron: Although neutrons are electrically neutral particles, one can observe two electrical poles inside the neutron, one being positively, the other negatively charged. Measuring this electrical dipole moment (EDM) helps scientists to better understand the asymmetry of matter over anti-matter in the Universe. 

Therefore, the collaboration is performing a series of measurements starting with test-setups at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in France and at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) in Switzerland. These preparations will lead to the a completely new experimental environment. It is being built with support of Fierlinger’s group and will start operation in 2010. Both the TUM as well as the PSI are currently developing sources for ultra-cold neutrons, providing the fundament for EDM research in neutrons. 

More information on the nEDM Collaborationhttp://nedm.web.psi.ch/