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Superthermal Source of Ultracold Neutrons for Fundamental Physics Experiments

Oliver Zimmer, Florian M. Piegsa, and Sergey N. Ivanov
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 134801 – Published 19 September 2011
Physics logo See Synopsis: Slow Neutrons Are Dense

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.

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  • Received 30 July 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.134801

© 2011 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Slow Neutrons Are Dense

Published 19 September 2011

Liquid helium-4 is integral in a source of slow-moving neutrons, with a five-fold increase in yield in density.

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Authors & Affiliations

Oliver Zimmer, Florian M. Piegsa*, and Sergey N. Ivanov

  • Institut Laue Langevin, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 Grenoble, France

  • *Present address: Institute for Particle Physics, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 13 — 23 September 2011

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