Probing additional dimensions in the universe with neutron experiments

We carry out a simple analysis of (n + 3)-dimensional gravity in the context of recent work on 'large' supplementary dimensions and deduce a formula for the expected compactification radius for the n additional dimensions in the universe, as a function of the Planck and the electro-weak scales. We argue that the correspondingly modified gravitational force gives rise to effects that might be within the detection range of dedicated neutron experiments. A scattering analysis of the corresponding modified gravitational forces suggests that slow neutron scattering off atomic nuclei with null spin may provide an experimental test for these ideas. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.