Measurement of the neutron lifetime using a gravitational trap and a low-temperature Fomblin coating

We present a new value for the neutron lifetime of 878.5 +- 0.7 stat. +- 0.3 syst. This result differs from the world average value (885.7 +- 0.8 s) by 6.5 standard deviations and by 5.6 standard deviations from the previous most precise result. However, this new value for the neutron lifetime together with a beta-asymmetry in neutron decay, Ao, of -0.1189(7) is in a good agreement with the Standard Model.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures; extended content with some correction

Neutron lifetime measurements using gravitationally trapped ultracold neutrons

Our experiment using gravitationally trapped ultracold neutrons (UCN) to measure the neutron lifetime is reviewed. Ultracold neutrons were trapped in a material bottle covered with perfluoropolyether. The neutron lifetime was deduced from comparison of UCN losses in the traps with different surface-to-volume ratios. The precise value of the neutron lifetime is of fundamental importance to particle physics and cosmology. In this experiment, the UCN storage time is brought closer to the neutron lifetime than in any experiments before:the probability of UCN losses from the trap was only 1% of that for neutron beta decay. The neutron lifetime obtained,878.5+/-0.7stat+/-0.3sys s, is the most accurate experimental measurement to date.Comment: 38 pages, 19 figures,changed conten

UCN anomalous losses and the UCN capture cross-section on material defects

Experimental data shows anomalously large Ultra Cold Neutrons (UCN) reflection losses and that the process of UCN reflection is not completely coherent. UCN anomalous losses under reflection cannot be explained in the context of neutron optics calculations. UCN losses by means of incoherent scattering on material defects are considered and cross-section values calculated. The UCN capture cross-section on material defects is enhanced by a factor of 10^4 due to localization of UCN around defects. This phenomenon can explain anomalous losses of UCN.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Experimental search for long-range forces in neutron scattering via a gravitational spectrometer

© 2014 American Physical Society, https://dx.doi.org/10.1103/physrevc.89.044002In this work we introduce a method of measuring low-energy scattering cross section with a gravitational spectrometer. In this method we add atoms (i.e., He) to the gravitational spectrometer filled with a target gas of ultracold neutrons (UCN). We search for long-range forces between atoms and UCN by measuring transfer of a small recoil energy similar to 10(-7) eV using the gravitational spectrometer. As a result of this search we set new constraints on the strength of long-range forces within the range of the effective radius of interaction of 10(-7)-10(-4) cm.Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Projects No. 08-02-01052a, No. 10-02-00217a, and No. 10-02-00224a)Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (Contracts No. 02.740.11.0532 and No. 14.740.11.0083