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Title: Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations

Abstract

We review the diffuse scattering and the loss coefficient in ultracold neutron reflection from slightly rough surfaces, report a surprising reduction in loss coefficient due to roughness, and discuss the possibility of transition from quantum treatment to ray optics. The results are used in a computer simulation of neutron storage in a recent neutron lifetime experiment that reported a large discrepancy of neutron lifetime with the current particle data value. Our partial reanalysis suggests the possibility of systematic effects that were not included in this publication.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21389070
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 81; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.81.055505; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; Journal ID: ISSN 0556-2813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION; DIFFUSE SCATTERING; INTERACTIONS; LIFETIME; LOSSES; REFLECTION; SURFACES; ULTRACOLD NEUTRONS; BARYONS; COHERENT SCATTERING; COLD NEUTRONS; DIFFRACTION; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; FERMIONS; HADRONS; NEUTRONS; NUCLEONS; SCATTERING; SIMULATION

Citation Formats

Steyerl, A, Malik, S S, Desai, A M, and Kaufman, C. Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1103/PHYSREVC.81.055505.
Steyerl, A, Malik, S S, Desai, A M, & Kaufman, C. Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVC.81.055505
Steyerl, A, Malik, S S, Desai, A M, and Kaufman, C. 2010. "Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVC.81.055505.
@article{osti_21389070,
title = {Surface roughness effect on ultracold neutron interaction with a wall and implications for computer simulations},
author = {Steyerl, A and Malik, S S and Desai, A M and Kaufman, C},
abstractNote = {We review the diffuse scattering and the loss coefficient in ultracold neutron reflection from slightly rough surfaces, report a surprising reduction in loss coefficient due to roughness, and discuss the possibility of transition from quantum treatment to ray optics. The results are used in a computer simulation of neutron storage in a recent neutron lifetime experiment that reported a large discrepancy of neutron lifetime with the current particle data value. Our partial reanalysis suggests the possibility of systematic effects that were not included in this publication.},
doi = {10.1103/PHYSREVC.81.055505},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21389070}, journal = {Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics},
issn = {0556-2813},
number = 5,
volume = 81,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}