Using Nab to determine correlations in unpolarized neutron decay

Journal Article · 03 December 2018 · Hyperfine Interactions

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-018-1538-7 · OSTI ID:1488716

Broussard, L. J. ; Baeßler, S.; Bailey, T. L.; Birge, N.; Bowman, J. D.; Crawford, C. B.; Cude-Woods, C.; Fellers, D. E.; Fomin, N.; Frlež, E.; Gericke, M. T. W.; Hayen, L.; Jezghani, A. P.; Li, H.; Macsai, N.; Makela, M. F.; Mammei, R. R.; Mathews, D.; McGaughey, P. L.; Mueller, P. E. ; Počanić, D.; Royse, C. A.; Salas-Bacci, A.; Sjue, S. K. L.; Ramsey, J. C.; Severijns, N.; Smith, E. C.; Wexler, J.; Whitehead, R. A.; Young, A. R.; Zeck, B. A.

The Nab experiment will measure the ratio of the weak axial-vector and vector coupling constants λ = gA/gV with precision δλ/λ ~3 × 10^-4 and search for a Fierz term b_F at a level Δb_F < 10^-3. The Nab detection system uses thick, large area, segmented silicon detectors to very precisely determine the decay proton’s time of flight and the decay electron’s energy in coincidence and reconstruct the correlation between the antineutrino and electron momenta. Excellent understanding of systematic effects affecting timing and energy reconstruction using this detection system are required. Here, to explore these effects, a series of ex situ studies have been undertaken, including a search for a Fierz term at a less sensitive level of Δb_F < 10^-2 in the beta decay of ⁴⁵Ca using the UCNA spectrometer.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP) (SC-26)
• Contributing Organization: Nab Collaboration
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1488716
• Journal Information: Hyperfine Interactions, Journal Name: Hyperfine Interactions Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 240; ISSN 0304-3843
• Publisher: SpringerCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English