Measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment by crystal diffraction

An experiment using a prototype setup to search for the neutron electric dipole moment by measuring spin-rotation in a non-centrosymmetric crystal (quartz) was carried out to investigate statistical sensitivity and systematic effects of the method. It has been demonstrated that the concept of the method works. The preliminary result of the experiment is $d_{\rm n}=(2.5\pm 6.5)\cdot 10^{-24}$ e$\cdot $cm. The experiment showed that an accuracy of $\sim 2.5\cdot 10^{-26}$ e$\cdot $cm can be obtained in 100 days data taking, using available quartz crystals and neutron beams.