Measuring the proton spectrum in neutron decay - latest results with aSPECT

The retardation spectrometer aSPECT was built to measure the shape of the proton spectrum in free neutron decay with high precision. This allows us to determine the antineutrino electron angular correlation coefficient a. We aim for a precision more than one order of magnitude better than the present best value, which is Delta_a /a = 5%. In a recent beam time performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin during April / May 2008 we reached a statistical accuracy of about 2% per 24 hours measurement time. Several systematic effects were investigated experimentally. We expect the total relative uncertainty to be well below 5%.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Conference Proceedings of the International Workshop on Particle Physics with Slow Neutrons 2008 held at the ILL, France. To be published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section

Half-life of the superallowed positron emitter 10 C

The half-life of the nucleus C10 has been determined by detecting its decay positrons in an E-ΔE fast scintillator telescope and recording the data in event mode. Care was taken to exclude the effects of possible contaminant activities and of pileup in

Neutron lifetime measurements and effective spectral cleaning with an ultracold neutron trap using a vertical Halbach octupole permanent magnet array

International audienceUltracold neutron (UCN) storage measurements were made in a trap constructed from a 1.3-T Halbach octupole permanent (HOPE) magnet array aligned vertically, using the TES port of the PF2 source at the Institut Laue-Langevin. A mechanical UCN valve at the bottom of the trap was used for filling and emptying. This valve was covered with Fomblin grease to induce nonspecular reflections and was used in combination with a movable polyethylene UCN remover inserted from the top for cleaning of above-threshold UCNs. Loss from UCN depolarization was suppressed with a minimum 2-mT bias field. Without using the UCN remover, a total storage time constant of (712±19)s was observed; with the remover inserted for 80 s and used at either 80 cm or 65 cm from the bottom of the trap, time constants of (824±32)s and (835±36)s were observed. Combining the latter two values, a neutron lifetime of τn=(887±39)s is extracted after primarily correcting for losses at the UCN valve. The time constants of the UCN population during cleaning were observed and compared to calculations based on kinetic theory as well as Monte Carlo studies. These calculations are used to predict above-threshold populations of ∼5%,∼0.5%, and ∼10−12% remaining after cleaning in the no-remover, 80-cm remover, and 65-cm remover measurements. Thus, by using a nonspecular reflector covering the entire bottom of the trap and a remover at the top of the trap, we have established an effective cleaning procedure for removing a major systematic effect in high-precision τn experiments with magnetically stored UCNs

The neutron electric dipole moment experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source

Novel experimental techniques are required to make the next big leap in neutron electric dipole moment experimental sensitivity, both in terms of statistics and systematic error control. The nEDM experiment at the Spallation Neutron Source (nEDM@SNS) will implement the scheme of Golub & Lamoreaux [Phys. Rep., 237, 1 (1994)]. The unique properties of combining polarized ultracold neutrons, polarized 3He, and superfluid 4He will be exploited to provide a sensitivity to ∼ 10−28 e · cm. Our cryogenic apparatus will deploy two small (3 L) measurement cells with a high density of ultracold neutrons produced and spin analyzed in situ. The electric field strength, precession time, magnetic shielding, and detected UCN number will all be enhanced compared to previous room temperature Ramsey measurements. Our 3He co-magnetometer offers unique control of systematic effects, in particular the Bloch-Siegert induced false EDM. Furthermore, there will be two distinct measurement modes: free precession and dressed spin. This will provide an important self-check of our results. Following five years of “critical component demonstration,” our collaboration transitioned to a “large scale integration” phase in 2018. An overview of our measurement techniques, experimental design, and brief updates are described in these proceedings