A Search for non-Newtonian force in a precision measurement of the scattering of slow neutrons in Xenon gas

An experimental search for non-newtonian, gravity-like force in a precision measurement of the scattering of slow neutrons in Xenon gas is proposed. A preliminary experiment with small statistics of 25 hours irradiation time was performed and the observed scattering distribution is consistent with the expectation with no additional forces. A 95% CL limit on the coupling strength for a hypothetical force of 1 nm interaction range was evaluated to be 2*10^-15. The expected sensitivity for a planned high statistics runs is discussed.