Cavallo's Multiplier for in situ Generation of High Voltage

A classic electrostatic induction machine, Cavallo's multiplier, is suggested for in situ production of very high voltage in cryogenic environments. The device is suitable for generating a large electrostatic field under conditions of very small load current. Operation of the Cavallo multiplier is analyzed, with quantitative description in terms of mutual capacitances between electrodes in the system. A demonstration apparatus was constructed, and measured voltages are compared to predictions based on measured capacitances in the system. The simplicity of the Cavallo multiplier makes it amenable to electrostatic analysis using finite element software, and electrode shapes can be optimized to take advantage of a high dielectric strength medium such as liquid helium. A design study is presented for a Cavallo multiplier in a large-scale, cryogenic experiment to measure the neutron electric dipole moment.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

First Direct Constraints on Fierz Interference in Free-Neutron \u3cem\u3eβ\u3c/em\u3e Decay

Precision measurements of free-neutron β decay have been used to precisely constrain our understanding of the weak interaction. However, the neutron Fierz interference term bn, which is particularly sensitive to beyond-standard-model tensor currents at the TeV scale, has thus far eluded measurement. Here we report the first direct constraints on this term, finding bn = 0.067 ± 0.005stat+0.090-0.061sys, consistent with the standard model. The uncertainty is dominated by absolute energy reconstruction and the linearity of the β spectrometer energy response

Search for Dark Matter Decay of the Free Neutron from the UCNA Experiment: \u3cem\u3en\u3c/em\u3e → χ + \u3cem\u3ee\u3c/em\u3e\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e\u3cem\u3ee\u3c/em\u3e\u3csup\u3e−\u3c/sup\u3e

It has been proposed recently that a previously unobserved neutron decay branch to a dark matter particle (χ) could account for the discrepancy in the neutron lifetime observed in experiments that use two different measurement techniques. One of the possible final states discussed includes a single χ along with an e+e− pair. We use data from the UCNA (Ultracold Neutron Asymmetry) experiment to set limits on this decay channel. Coincident electron-like events are detected with ∼4π acceptance using a pair of detectors that observe a volume of stored ultracold neutrons. The summed kinetic energy (Ee+e−) from such events is used to set limits, as a function of the χ mass, on the branching fraction for this decay channel. For χ masses consistent with resolving the neutron lifetime discrepancy, we exclude this as the dominant dark matter decay channel at ≫ 5σ level for 100 \u3c Ee+e− \u3c 644keV. If the χ + e+e− final state is not the only one, we set limits on its branching fraction of \u3c 10−4 for the above Ee+e− range at \u3e 90% confidence level

New Result for the Neutron \u3cem\u3eβ\u3c/em\u3e-Asymmetry Parameter \u3cem\u3eA\u3c/em\u3e\u3csub\u3e0\u3c/sub\u3e from UCNA

Background: The neutron β-decay asymmetry parameter A0 defines the angular correlation between the spin of the neutron and the momentum of the emitted electron. Values for A0 permit an extraction of the ratio of the weak axial-vector to vector coupling constants, λ ≡ gA/gV, which under assumption of the conserved vector current hypothesis (gV = 1) determines gA. Precise values for gA are important as a benchmark for lattice QCD calculations and as a test of the standard model. Purpose: The UCNA experiment, carried out at the Ultracold Neutron (UCN) source at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, was the first measurement of any neutron β-decay angular correlation performed with UCN. This article reports the most precise result for A0 obtained to date from the UCNA experiment, as a result of higher statistics and reduced key systematic uncertainties, including from the neutron polarization and the characterization of the electron detector response. Methods: UCN produced via the downscattering of moderated spallation neutrons in a solid deuterium crystal were polarized via transport through a 7 T polarizing magnet and a spin flipper, which permitted selection of either spin state. The UCN were then contained within a 3-m long cylindrical decay volume, situated along the central axis of a superconducting 1 T solenoidal spectrometer. With the neutron spins then oriented parallel or anti-parallel to the solenoidal field, an asymmetry in the numbers of emitted decay electrons detected in two electron detector packages located on both ends of the spectrometer permitted an extraction of A0. Results: The UCNA experiment reports a new 0.67% precision result for A0 of A0 = −0.12054(44)stat(68)syst, which yields λ = gA/gV = −1.2783(22). Combination with the previous UCNA result and accounting for correlated systematic uncertainties produces A0=−0.12015(34)stat(63)syst and λ = gA/gV = −1.2772(20). Conclusions: This new result for A0 and gA/gV from the UCNA experiment has provided confirmation of the shift in values for gA/gV that has emerged in the published results from more recent experiments, which are in striking disagreement with the results from older experiments. Individual systematic corrections to the asymmetries in older experiments (published prior to 2002) were \u3e 10%, whereas those in the more recent ones (published after 2002) have been of the scale of \u3c 2%. The impact of these older results on the global average will be minimized should future measurements of A0 reach the 0.1% level of precision with central values near the most recent results

Electric dipole moments and the search for new physics

Static electric dipole moments of nondegenerate systems probe mass scales for physics beyond the Standard Model well beyond those reached directly at high energy colliders. Discrimination between different physics models, however, requires complementary searches in atomic-molecular-and-optical, nuclear and particle physics. In this report, we discuss the current status and prospects in the near future for a compelling suite of such experiments, along with developments needed in the encompassing theoretical framework.Comment: Contribution to Snowmass 2021; updated with community edits and endorsement