Constraints on exotic spin-velocity-dependent interactions

Experimental searches for exotic spin-dependent forces are attracting a lot of attention because they allow to test theoretical extensions to the standard model. Here, we report an experimental search for possible exotic spin-dependent force, specifically spin-and-velocity-dependent forces, by using a K-Rb-21Ne co-magnetometer and a tungsten ring featuring a high nucleon density. Taking advantage of the high sensitivity of the co-magnetometer, the pseudomagnetic field from this exotic force is measured to be ≤7 aT. This sets limits on coupling constants for the neutron-nucleon and proton-nucleon interactions in the range of ≥0.1 m (mediator boson mass ≤2 μeV). The coupling constant limits are established to be $$|{g}_{V}^{n}|\,\le \,8.2\times 1{0}^{-11}$$ ∣ g V n ∣ ≤ 8.2 × 1 0 − 11 and $$|{g}_{V}^{p}|\,\le \,3.7\times 1{0}^{-10}$$ ∣ g V p ∣ ≤ 3.7 × 1 0 − 10 , which are more than one order of magnitude tighter than astronomical and cosmological limits on the coupling between the new gauge boson such as Z’ and standard model particles.