Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime by Counting Trapped Protons

We measured the neutron decay lifetime by counting in-beam neutron decay recoil protons trapped in a quasi-Penning trap. The absolute neutron beam fluence was measured by capture in a thin (6)LiF foil detector with known efficiency. The combination of these measurements gives the neutron lifetime: τ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 2005-07, Vol.110 (4), p.327-331
Main Authors: Wietfeldt, F E, Dewey, M S, Gilliam, D M, Nico, J S, Fei, X, Snow, W M, Greene, G L, Pauwels, J, Eykens, R, Lamberty, A, Van Gestel, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beta decay
Capture
Instruments & Instrumentation
Measurement
neutron lifetime
Neutrons
OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Particle physics
Physics
PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
Protons
trapped protons
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Summary:We measured the neutron decay lifetime by counting in-beam neutron decay recoil protons trapped in a quasi-Penning trap. The absolute neutron beam fluence was measured by capture in a thin (6)LiF foil detector with known efficiency. The combination of these measurements gives the neutron lifetime: τ n = (886.8 ± 1.2 ± 3.2) s, where the first (second) uncertainty is statistical (systematic) in nature. This is the most precise neutron lifetime determination to date using an in-beam method.
ISSN:1044-677X
2165-7254
DOI:10.6028/jres.110.048