Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons

S. N. Dzhosyuk; A. Copete; J. M. Doyle; L. Yang; K. J. Coakley; R. Golub; E. Korobkina; T. Kreft; S. K. Lamoreaux; A. K. Thompson; G. L. Yang; P. R. Huffman

doi:10.6028/jres.110.050

Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons

S. N. Dzhosyuk, A. Copete, J. M. Doyle, L. Yang, K. J. Coakley, R. Golub, E. Korobkina, T. Kreft, S. K. Lamoreaux, A. K. Thompson, G. L. Yang, P. R. Huffman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We report progress on an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Neutrons are loaded into a 1.1 T deep super-conducting Ioffe-type trap by scattering 0.89 nm neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid ⁴He. Neutron decays are detected in real time using the scintillation light produced in the helium by the beta-decay electrons. The measured trap lifetime at a helium temperature of 300 mK and with no ameliorative magnetic ramping is substantially shorter than the free neutron lifetime. This is attributed to the presence of neutrons with energies higher than the magnetic potential of the trap. Magnetic field ramping is implemented to eliminate these neutrons, resulting in an 833_-63⁺⁷⁴ trap lifetime, consistent with the currently accepted value of the free neutron lifetime.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	339-343
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Volume	110
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.110.050
State	Published - 2005
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Magnetic trapping
Neutron lifetime
Superthermal neutron production
Ultracold neutrons

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Engineering

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10.6028/jres.110.050

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Dzhosyuk, S. N., Copete, A., Doyle, J. M., Yang, L., Coakley, K. J., Golub, R., Korobkina, E., Kreft, T., Lamoreaux, S. K., Thompson, A. K., Yang, G. L., & Huffman, P. R. (2005). Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 110(4), 339-343. https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.110.050

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title = "Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons",

abstract = "We report progress on an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Neutrons are loaded into a 1.1 T deep super-conducting Ioffe-type trap by scattering 0.89 nm neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid 4He. Neutron decays are detected in real time using the scintillation light produced in the helium by the beta-decay electrons. The measured trap lifetime at a helium temperature of 300 mK and with no ameliorative magnetic ramping is substantially shorter than the free neutron lifetime. This is attributed to the presence of neutrons with energies higher than the magnetic potential of the trap. Magnetic field ramping is implemented to eliminate these neutrons, resulting in an 833-63+74 trap lifetime, consistent with the currently accepted value of the free neutron lifetime.",

keywords = "Magnetic trapping, Neutron lifetime, Superthermal neutron production, Ultracold neutrons",

author = "Dzhosyuk, {S. N.} and A. Copete and Doyle, {J. M.} and L. Yang and Coakley, {K. J.} and R. Golub and E. Korobkina and T. Kreft and Lamoreaux, {S. K.} and Thompson, {A. K.} and Yang, {G. L.} and Huffman, {P. R.}",

year = "2005",

doi = "10.6028/jres.110.050",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "110",

pages = "339--343",

journal = "Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology",

issn = "1044-677X",

publisher = "National Institute of Standards and Technology",

number = "4",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons

AU - Dzhosyuk, S. N.

AU - Copete, A.

AU - Doyle, J. M.

AU - Yang, L.

AU - Coakley, K. J.

AU - Golub, R.

AU - Korobkina, E.

AU - Kreft, T.

AU - Lamoreaux, S. K.

AU - Thompson, A. K.

AU - Yang, G. L.

AU - Huffman, P. R.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - We report progress on an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Neutrons are loaded into a 1.1 T deep super-conducting Ioffe-type trap by scattering 0.89 nm neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid 4He. Neutron decays are detected in real time using the scintillation light produced in the helium by the beta-decay electrons. The measured trap lifetime at a helium temperature of 300 mK and with no ameliorative magnetic ramping is substantially shorter than the free neutron lifetime. This is attributed to the presence of neutrons with energies higher than the magnetic potential of the trap. Magnetic field ramping is implemented to eliminate these neutrons, resulting in an 833-63+74 trap lifetime, consistent with the currently accepted value of the free neutron lifetime.

AB - We report progress on an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Neutrons are loaded into a 1.1 T deep super-conducting Ioffe-type trap by scattering 0.89 nm neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid 4He. Neutron decays are detected in real time using the scintillation light produced in the helium by the beta-decay electrons. The measured trap lifetime at a helium temperature of 300 mK and with no ameliorative magnetic ramping is substantially shorter than the free neutron lifetime. This is attributed to the presence of neutrons with energies higher than the magnetic potential of the trap. Magnetic field ramping is implemented to eliminate these neutrons, resulting in an 833-63+74 trap lifetime, consistent with the currently accepted value of the free neutron lifetime.

KW - Magnetic trapping

KW - Neutron lifetime

KW - Superthermal neutron production

KW - Ultracold neutrons

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JO - Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

JF - Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology

IS - 4

ER -

Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons

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