Abstract
Ultracold neutrons (UCNs) play an important role for precise measurements of the properties of the neutron and its interactions. During the past 25 years, a neutron turbine coupled to a liquid deuterium cold neutron source at a high-flux reactor has defined the state of the art for UCN production, despite a long history of efforts towards a new generation of UCN sources. This Letter reports a world-best UCN density available for users, achieved with a new source based on conversion of cold neutrons in superfluid helium. A conversion volume of 5 liters provides at least 274 000 UCN in a single accumulation run. Cyclically repeated operation of the source has been demonstrated, as well.
- Received 30 July 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.134801
© 2011 American Physical Society
Synopsis
Slow Neutrons Are Dense
Published 19 September 2011
Liquid helium- is integral in a source of slow-moving neutrons, with a five-fold increase in yield in density.
See more in Physics