A New World Average Value for the Neutron Lifetime

The analysis of the data on measurements of the neutron lifetime is presented. A new most accurate result of the measurement of neutron lifetime [Phys. Lett. B 605 (2005) 72] 878.5 +/- 0.8 s differs from the world average value [Phys. Lett. B 667 (2008) 1] 885.7 +/- 0.8 s by 6.5 standard deviations. In this connection the analysis and Monte Carlo simulation of experiments [Phys. Lett. B 483 (2000) 15] and [Phys. Rev. Lett. 63 (1989) 593] is carried out. Systematic errors of about -6 s are found in each of the experiments. The summary table for the neutron lifetime measurements after corrections and additions is given. A new world average value for the neutron lifetime 879.9 +/- 0.9 s is presented.Comment: 27 pages, 13 figures; Fig.13 update

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

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

Structural and phase transitions in nanocluster ethanol samples at low temperatures

Results of neutron (SANS study) and x-ray diffraction experiments with nanocluster samples of deuteroethanol (C₂D₅OD) or ordinary pure ethanol (C₂H₅OH) are presented. A deuterated ethanol sample, formed via quick cooling of ethanol–helium mixture down to 1.6 K, had clusters with the size of d ~ 20–30 nm at liquid helium temperatures. After warming up to liquid nitrogen temperatures the gel decays into an amorphous white powder. It was observed that these powder samples remained in the amorphous state even after keeping at T ≤ 90 K for a long time (a few months). The neutron studies were supported by further x-ray investigations of the structure and the phase transitions in the highly dispersed powder samples, which were created via the decay of the gel samples of ordinary ethanol at temperatures above liquid nitrogen up to 150 K at saturated nitrogen gas pressure. Annealing of the “gel” sample during half an hour at a temperature of T ~ 110 K resulted in a phase transition to a monoclinic phase with the crystallite sizes ~30–40 nm. For comparison we studied the structure and phase transitions in “bulk” samples, prepared via quick freezing of liquid ethanol down to liquid nitrogen temperature. The “bulk” sample had a similar transition at T ~ 125 K, which is by 15 K higher than the temperature of the intensive phase transition in the “gel” sample. The mean grain size in the bulk material was d ≥ 60 nm

The Evaluation of V_{ud}, Experiment and Theory

The value of the V_{ud} matrix element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix can be derived from nuclear superallowed beta decays, neutron decay, and pion beta decay. We survey current world data for all three. Today, the most precise value of V_{ud} comes from the nuclear decays; however, the precision is limited not by experimental error but by the estimated uncertainty in theoretical corrections. Experimental uncertainty does limit the neutron-decay result, which, though statistically consistent with the nuclear result, is approximately a factor of three poorer in precision. The value obtained for $V_{ud}$ leads to a result that differs at the 98% confidence level from the unitarity condition for the CKM matrix. We examine the reliability of the small calculated corrections that have been applied to the data, and assess the likelihood of even higher quality nuclear data becoming available to confirm or deny the discrepancy. Some of the required experiments depend upon the availability of intense radioactive beams. Others are possible today.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figure, LaTe

A method to measure the resonance transitions between the gravitationally bound quantum states of neutrons in the GRANIT spectrometer

We present a method to measure the resonance transitions between the gravitationally bound quantum states of neutrons in the GRANIT spectrometer. The purpose of GRANIT is to improve the accuracy of measurement of the quantum states parameters by several orders of magnitude, taking advantage of long storage of Ultracold neutrons at specula trajectories. The transitions could be excited using a periodic spatial variation of a magnetic field gradient. If the frequency of such a perturbation (in the frame of a moving neutron) coincides with a resonance frequency defined by the energy difference of two quantum states, the transition probability will sharply increase. The GRANIT experiment is motivated by searches for short-range interactions (in particular spin-dependent interactions), by studying the interaction of a quantum system with a gravitational field, by searches for extensions of the Standard model, by the unique possibility to check the equivalence principle for an object in a quantum state and by studying various quantum optics phenomena

Spectral Evolution During Ultracold Neutron Storage

In a precision measurement of the spectrum of ultracold neutrons as it evolves during storage in a “neutron bottle" we have observed an indication of a surprising heating by $\approx$ 10$^{-10}$ eV, occurring during the initial several 100 s of storage. We have not found any simple explanation. The data are, however, consistent with unconventional ideas proposed previously by two of us

Structural and phase transitions in nanocluster ethanol samples at low temperatures

Results of neutron (SANS study) and x-ray diffraction experiments with nanocluster samples of deuteroethanol (C₂D₅OD) or ordinary pure ethanol (C₂H₅OH) are presented. A deuterated ethanol sample, formed via quick cooling of ethanol–helium mixture down to 1.6 K, had clusters with the size of d ~ 20–30 nm at liquid helium temperatures. After warming up to liquid nitrogen temperatures the gel decays into an amorphous white powder. It was observed that these powder samples remained in the amorphous state even after keeping at T ≤ 90 K for a long time (a few months). The neutron studies were supported by further x-ray investigations of the structure and the phase transitions in the highly dispersed powder samples, which were created via the decay of the gel samples of ordinary ethanol at temperatures above liquid nitrogen up to 150 K at saturated nitrogen gas pressure. Annealing of the “gel” sample during half an hour at a temperature of T ~ 110 K resulted in a phase transition to a monoclinic phase with the crystallite sizes ~30–40 nm. For comparison we studied the structure and phase transitions in “bulk” samples, prepared via quick freezing of liquid ethanol down to liquid nitrogen temperature. The “bulk” sample had a similar transition at T ~ 125 K, which is by 15 K higher than the temperature of the intensive phase transition in the “gel” sample. The mean grain size in the bulk material was d ≥ 60 nm