A Proton Detector System for Studying UltraCold Neutron Decay

Authors

Kristina Mikhailova, DePauw University

Files

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

10-2-2019

Abstract

The UCNtau experiment is being performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory and has recently produced a sub-second measurement [1] of the neutron lifetime, the average time a free neutron, one that is not contained in an atomic nucleus, will disintegrate into a proton, electron and a third particle known as an electron anti-neutrino. The result confirms other measurements that utilize very slow moving neutrons, described as ultracold neutrons (UCN’s), constrained in a volume and reinforces a disagreement with lifetime measurements produced using a different technique, one employing a cold neutron beam. One of the main differences between the methods is UCN experiments count surviving neutrons while the beam measurements count decay products: protons. A long term goal then is to study the protons from UCN decays which has not been done before and may yield the reason for the discrepancy. We present some initial designs for a proton detector system and evaluate the design of each using a computer simulation of the proton trajectories. We also present some initial analysis of data taken from a detector associated with the small cleaner which removes neutrons with enough energy to escape the trap volume. [1] R.W. Pattie Jr., N.B. Callahan, C. Cude-Woods, E.R. Adamek, L.J. Broussard, S.M. Clayton, S.A. Currie, E.B. Dees, X. Ding, E.M. Engel, D.E. Fellers, W. Fox, P. Geltenbort, K.P. Hickerson, M.A. Hoffbauer, A.T. Holley, A. Komives, C.-Y. Liu, S.W.T. MacDonald, M. Makela, C.L. Morris, J.D. Ortiz, J. Ramsey, D.J. Salvat, A. Saunders, S.J. Seestrom, E.I. Sharapov, S.K. Sjue, Z. Tang, J. Vanderwerp, B. Vogelaar, P.L. Walstrom, Z. Wang, W. Wei, H.L. Weaver, J.W. Wexler, T.L. Womack, A.R. Young, B.A. Zeck, “Measurement of the neutron lifetime using a magneto-gravitational trap and in situ detection,” Science 360, 627-632 (2018).

Project Mentor

Prof. A. Komives, PhD

Funding and Acknowledgements

Funding: Douglas A. & Phyllis G. Smith Student Faculty Collaborative Research Fund, the Faculty Development Program, and the National Science Foundation

Recommended Citation

Mikhailova, Kristina, "A Proton Detector System for Studying UltraCold Neutron Decay" (2019). Annual Student Research Poster Session. 169.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/169