Subscribe to the gold package and get unlimited access to Shamra Academy
Register a new userAn ultracold neutron storage bottle for UCN density measurements
73
0
0.0
(
0
)
Ask ChatGPT about the research
No Arabic abstract
We have developed a storage bottle for ultracold neutrons (UCN) in order to measure the UCN density at the beamports of the Paul Scherrer Institutes (PSI) UCN source. This paper describes the design, construction and commissioning of the robust and mobile storage bottle with a volume comparable to typical storage experiments 32 liter e.g. searching for an electric dipole moment of the neutron.
rate research
Read More
The UCN$tau$ experiment is designed to measure the lifetime $tau_{n}$ of the free neutron by trapping ultracold neutrons (UCN) in a magneto-gravitational trap. An asymmetric bowl-shaped NdFeB magnet Halbach array confines low-field-seeking UCN within the apparatus, and a set of electromagnetic coils in a toroidal geometry provide a background holding field to eliminate depolarization-induced UCN loss caused by magnetic field nodes. We present a measurement of the storage time $tau_{store}$ of the trap by storing UCN for various times, and counting the survivors. The data are consistent with a single exponential decay, and we find $tau_{store}=860pm19$ s: within $1 sigma$ of current global averages for $tau_{n}$. The storage time with the holding field deactiveated is found to be $tau_{store}=470 pm 160$ s; this decreased storage time is due to the loss of UCN which undergo Majorana spin-flips while being stored. We discuss plans to increase the statistical sensitivity of the measurement and investigate potential systematic effects.
Ultracold neutrons (UCNs) are key for precision studies of fundamental parameters of the neutron and in searches for new CP violating processes or exotic interactions beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The most prominent example is the search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM). We have performed an experimental comparison of the leading UCN sources currently operating. We have used a standard UCN storage bottle with a volume of 32 liters, comparable in size to nEDM experiments, which allows us to compare the UCN density available at a given beam port.
A new boron-coated CCD camera is described for direct detection of ultracold neutrons (UCN) through the capture reactions $^{10}$B (n,$alpha$0$gamma$)$^7$Li (6%) and $^{10}$B(n,$alpha$1$gamma$)$^7$Li (94%). The experiments, which extend earlier works using a boron-coated ZnS:Ag scintillator, are based on direct detections of the neutron-capture byproducts in silicon. The high position resolution, energy resolution and particle ID performance of a scientific CCD allows for observation and identification of all the byproducts $alpha$, $^7$Li and $gamma$ (electron recoils). A signal-to-noise improvement on the order of 10$^4$ over the indirect method has been achieved. Sub-pixel position resolution of a few microns is demonstrated. The technology can also be used to build UCN detectors with an area on the order of 1 m$^2$. The combination of micrometer scale spatial resolution, few electrons ionization thresholds and large area paves the way to new research avenues including quantum physics of UCN and high-resolution neutron imaging and spectroscopy.
In the UCN{tau} experiment, ultracold neutrons (UCN) are confined by magnetic fields and the Earths gravitational field. Field-trapping mitigates the problem of UCN loss on material surfaces, which caused the largest correction in prior neutron experiments using material bottles. However, the neutron dynamics in field traps differ qualitatively from those in material bottles. In the latter case, neutrons bounce off material surfaces with significant diffusivity and the population quickly reaches a static spatial distribution with a density gradient induced by the gravitational potential. In contrast, the field-confined UCN -- whose dynamics can be described by Hamiltonian mechanics -- do not exhibit the stochastic behaviors typical of an ideal gas model as observed in material bottles. In this report, we will describe our efforts to simulate UCN trapping in the UCN{tau} magneto-gravitational trap. We compare the simulation output to the experimental results to determine the parameters of the neutron detector and the input neutron distribution. The tuned model is then used to understand the phase space evolution of neutrons observed in the UCN{tau} experiment. We will discuss the implications of chaotic dynamics on controlling the systematic effects, such as spectral cleaning and microphonic heating, for a successful UCN lifetime experiment to reach a 0.01% level of precision.
We report on our efforts to optimize the geometry of neutron moderators and converters for the TRIUMF UltraCold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) source using MCNP simulations. It will use an existing spallation neutron source driven by a 19.3 kW proton beam delivered by TRIUMFs 520 MeV cyclotron. Spallation neutrons will be moderated in heavy water at room temperature and in liquid deuterium at 20 K, and then superthermally converted to ultracold neutrons in superfluid, isotopically purified $^4$He. The helium will be cooled by a $^3$He fridge through a $^3$He-$^4$He heat exchanger. The optimization took into account a range of engineering and safety requirements and guided the detailed design of the source. The predicted ultracold-neutron density delivered to a typical experiment is maximized for a production volume of 27 L, achieving a production rate of $1.4 cdot 10^7$ s$^{-1}$ to $1.6 cdot 10^7$ s$^{-1}$ with a heat load of 8.1 W. At that heat load, the fridge can cool the superfluid helium to 1.1 K, resulting in a storage lifetime for ultracold neutrons in the source of about 30 s. The most critical performance parameters are the choice of cold moderator and the volume, thickness, and material of the vessel containing the superfluid helium. The source is scheduled to be installed in 2021 and will enable the TUCAN collaboration to measure the electric dipole moment of the neutron with a sensitivity of $10^{-27}$ e cm.
Log in to be able to interact and post comments
comments
Fetching comments
Sign in to be able to follow your search criteria
