Measurement of the total neutron scattering cross section ratios of noble gases of natural isotopic composition using a pulsed neutron beam

Precision measurements of slow neutron cross sections with atoms have several scientific applications. In particular the n-$^{4}$He s-wave scattering length is important to know both for helping to constrain the nuclear three-body interaction and for the proper interpretation of several ongoing slow neutron experiments searching for other types of neutron-atom interactions. We present new measurements of the ratios of the neutron differential scattering cross sections for natural isotopic-abundance mixtures of the noble gases He, Ar, Kr, and Xe to natural isotopic abundance Ne. These measurements were performed using a recently developed neutron scattering apparatus for gas samples located on a pulsed slow neutron beamline which was designed to search for possible exotic neutron-atom interactions and employs both neutron time of flight information and a position-sensitive neutron detector for scattering event reconstruction. We found agreement with the literature values of scattering cross sections inferred from Ar/Ne, Kr/Ne and Xe/Ne differential cross section ratios over the $q$ range of $1 - 7$ nm$^{-1}$. However for the case of He/Ne we find that the cross section inferred differs by 11.3% (7.6 $\sigma$) from previously-reported values inferred from neutron phase shift measurements, but is in reasonable agreement with values from other measurements. The very large discrepancy in the He/Ne ratio calls for a new precision measurement of the n-$^{4}$He scattering length using neutron interferometry

Fundamental physics activities with pulsed neutron at J-PARC(BL05)

"Neutron Optics and Physics (NOP/ BL05)" at MLF in J-PARC is a beamline for studies of fundamental physics. The beamline is divided into three branches so that different experiments can be performed in parallel. These beam branches are being used to develop a variety of new projects. We are developing an experimental project to measure the neutron lifetime with total uncertainty of 1 s (0.1%). The neutron lifetime is an important parameter in elementary particle and astrophysics. Thus far, the neutron lifetime has been measured by several groups; however, different values are obtained from different measurement methods. This experiment is using a method with different sources of systematic uncertainty than measurements conducted to date. We are also developing a source of pulsed ultra-cold neutrons (UCNs) produced from a Doppler shifter are available at the unpolarized beam branch. We are developing a time focusing device for UCNs, a so called "rebuncher", which can increase UCN density from a pulsed UCN source. At the low divergence beam branch, an experiment to search an unknown intermediate force with nanometer range is performed by measuring the angular dependence of neutron scattering by noble gases. Finally the beamline is also used for the research and development of optical elements and detectors. For example, a position sensitive neutron detector that uses emulsion to achieve sub-micrometer resolution is currently under development. We have succeeded in detecting cold and ultra-cold neutrons using the emulsion detector.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of International Conference on Neutron Optics (NOP2017

Hyperthyroidism due to struma ovarii: Diagnostic pitfalls and preventing thyroid storm

We report struma ovarii in a case that had hyperthyroidism and was treated with laparoscopic tumor resection. A 40-year-old Japanese woman presented with tachycardia, finger tremor, and weight loss. Although blood examination showed hyperthyroidism, test results for thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody and thyroid stimulating antibody were negative, and thyroid scintigraphy showed no abnormal findings. Because she was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor, and whole-body scintigraphy showed that iodine uptake was detected in the pelvic space, we diagnosed her with an ovarian tumor, which caused excessive thyroid hormone secretion. After controlling the thyroid hormone level, we resected the ovarian tumor laparoscopically. The thyroid hormone level was within the normal range postoperatively without any medications. Based on our experience, physicians need to remember that ovarian tumors can cause hyperthyroidism. Controlling the thyroid hormone level preoperatively by using antithyroid drugs and performing minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is considered useful for preventing thyroid storm

A search for deviations from the inverse square law of gravity at nm range using a pulsed neutron beam

Recently published results and ongoing experimental efforts to search for deviations from the inverse square law of gravity at the nanometer length scale using slow neutron scattering from the noble gases are discussed. Using the pulsed slow neutron beamline BL05 at the Materials and Life Sciences Facility at J-PARC, we measured the neutron momentum transfer (q) dependence of the differential scattering cross section for the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. By comparing to the distributions obtained using pseudo-experimental Monte Carlo simulations and forming ratios between Xe and He, we placed an upper bound on the strength of a new interaction as a function of interaction length λ which improved upon previous results in the region λ < 0.1 nm, and remains competitive in the larger λ region. Additionally we describe how we are using our technique to extract relative values of the total neutron scattering cross sections of the noble gases, as well as how we plan to measure the neutron-electron scattering length using the NOVA instrument on BL21 at J-PARC

A search for deviations from the inverse square law of gravity at nm range using a pulsed neutron beam

Recently published results and ongoing experimental efforts to search for deviations from the inverse square law of gravity at the nanometer length scale using slow neutron scattering from the noble gases are discussed. Using the pulsed slow neutron beamline BL05 at the Materials and Life Sciences Facility at J-PARC, we measured the neutron momentum transfer (q) dependence of the differential scattering cross section for the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe. By comparing to the distributions obtained using pseudo-experimental Monte Carlo simulations and forming ratios between Xe and He, we placed an upper bound on the strength of a new interaction as a function of interaction length λ which improved upon previous results in the region λ < 0.1 nm, and remains competitive in the larger λ region. Additionally we describe how we are using our technique to extract relative values of the total neutron scattering cross sections of the noble gases, as well as how we plan to measure the neutron-electron scattering length using the NOVA instrument on BL21 at J-PARC