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

Journal Article · Sat May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVC.81.055505· OSTI ID:21389070

Steyerl, A; Malik, S S; Desai, A M; Kaufman, C ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 (United States)

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.

• OSTI ID: 21389070
• Journal Information: Physical Review. C, Nuclear Physics, Vol. 81, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevC.81.055505; (c) 2010 The American Physical Society; ISSN 0556-2813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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