Experimental Setup for Neutron Lifetime Measurements with a Large Gravitational Trap at Low Temperatures

Journal Article · Fri Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Technical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063784219020191· OSTI ID:22927763

Serebrov, A. P.; Kolomenskii, E. A.; Fomin, A. K.; Koptyukhov, A. O.; Krasnoshchekova, I. A.; Vasil’ev, A. V.; Prudnikov, D. M.; Shoka, I. V.; Chechkin, A. V.; Chaikovskii, M. E.; Varlamov, V. E.; Pirozhkov, A. N. ^[1]; Geltenbort, P.; Zimmer, O.; Jenke, T. ^[2]; Tucker, M. A. H. ^[3]

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1. Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, National Research Centre Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)
2. Institut Laue–Langevin (France)
3. Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus (United Kingdom)

Currently the most accurate measurements of neutron lifetime are being performed at the Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute with ultracold neutrons (UCNs) stored in a gravitational trap. A modified setup with a large gravitational trap and cooling to 10–15 K is presented. The results of measurements of temperature dependence of UCN losses in collisions with walls, which were coated with a perfluorinated grease (Fomblin UT 18), at 300–77 K, are detailed. The probable heat inflow to the trap is estimated, and the feasibility of cooling to indicated temperatures in experiments with the modified setup is demonstrated.

• OSTI ID: 22927763
• Journal Information: Technical Physics, Vol. 64, Issue 2; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2019 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7842
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COLLISIONS
COOLING
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
HEAT
LIFETIME
MEASURING METHODS
ST PETERSBURG INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0065-0273 K
TRAPPING
ULTRACOLD NEUTRONS