M. Leuschner

Neutronic Design and Measured Performance of the Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS) Target Moderator Reflector Assembly

Abstract The Low Energy Neutron Source (LENS) is an accelerator-based pulsed cold neutron facility under construction at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF). The idea behind LENS is to produce pulsed cold neutron beams starting with ∼ MeV neutrons from (p,n) reactions in Be which are moderated to meV energies and extracted from a small solid angle for use in neutron instruments which can operate efficiently with relatively broad ( ∼ 1 ms ) neutron pulse widths. Although the combination of the features and operating parameters of this source is unique at present, the neutronic design possesses several features similar to those envisioned for future neutron facilities such as long-pulsed spallation sources (LPSS) and very cold neutron (VCN) sources. We describe the underlying ideas and design details of the target/moderator/reflector system (TMR) and compare measurements of its brightness, energy spectrum, and emission time distribution under different moderator configurations with MCNP simulations. Brightness measurements using an ambient temperature water moderator agree with MCNP simulations within the 20% accuracy of the measurement. The measured neutron emission time distribution from a solid methane moderator is in agreement with simulation and the cold neutron flux is sufficient for neutron scattering studies of materials. We describe some possible modifications to the existing design which would increase the cold neutron brightness with negligible effect on the emission time distribution.

A current mode detector array for γ-ray asymmetry measurements

Abstract We have built a CsI(Tl) γ -ray detector array for the NPDGamma experiment to search for a small parity-violating directional asymmetry in the angular distribution of 2.2xa0MeV γ -rays from the capture of polarized cold neutrons by protons with a sensitivity of several ppb. The weak pion–nucleon coupling constant can be determined from this asymmetry. The small size of the asymmetry requires a high cold neutron flux, control of systematic errors at the ppb level, and the use of current mode γ -ray detection with vacuum photodiodes and low-noise solid-state preamplifiers. The average detector photoelectron yield was determined to be 1300 photoelectrons per MeV. The RMS width seen in the measurement is therefore dominated by the fluctuations in the number of γ -rays absorbed in the detector (counting statistics) rather than the intrinsic detector noise. The detectors were tested for noise performance, sensitivity to magnetic fields, pedestal stability and cosmic background. False asymmetries due to gain changes and electronic pickup in the detector system were measured to be consistent with zero to an accuracy of 10 - 9 in a few hours. We report on the design, operating criteria, and the results of measurements performed to test the detector array.

The spin dependent momentum distributions of the neutron and proton in 3He

The spin asymmetries in the momentum distributions of the neutron and proton in 3He are obtained from a Faddeev calculation of the ground state. Both two- and three-body configurations are found to be important. Using a PWIA model and measurements of the spin asymmetries in 3&( j?,2p) and 3s( j?,pn) quasielastic scattering at 197 MeV the asymmetries in the momentum distributions are experimentally determined. Good agreement between theory and experiment is found up to initial nucleon momenta of 300 MeV/c.

Spin-dependent scattering of polarized protons from a polarized 3He internal gas target

We describe the first experiment to use a polarized internal gas target and polarized beam in a storage ring. A laser optically pumped polarized 3He internal gas target has been used with circulating beams of 197–414 MeV polarized protons to carry out an extensive set of measurements of spin dependent scattering. A large acceptance non-magnetic detector system consisting of wire-chambers, scintillators and microstrip detectors was used to detect protons, neutrons, deuterons, and 3He nuclei from the beam-target interaction. It is demonstrated that these techniques result in low backgrounds (< 1%) due to scattering from species other than the polarized target gas and allow detection of low energy recoiling nuclei. Specific issues such as interfacing the experiment to the storage ring and monitoring the luminosity and polarizations are discussed in detail.

Parity-violating gamma-ray asymmetry in the neutron-proton capture

Abstract An experiment to measure γ-ray asymmetry A γ with a high precision in neutron-proton radiative capture is under construction at LANSCE. The experiment will determine the weak pion-nucleon coupling constant H π 1 ,, 30% of its predicted value.

NPDGamma: A measurement of the parity-violating gamma asymmetry A γ in n-p capture

The NPDGamma Experiment measures the parity-violating correlation Aγ between neutron spin and photon momentum in the reaction + p → d + γ. Knowledge of Aγ and other parity-violating observables in few-body nuclear systems will provide constraints for a parameterized description of ΔS = 0 parity-violating phenomena free from complications of nuclear structure. The NPDGamma experiment uses a polarized cold pulsed neutron beam, a liquid parahydrogen target, and a cylindrical array of 48 CsI(Tl) scintillation detectors operated in current mode to search for the asymmetry. NPDGamma recently completed the first phase of the program to measure Aγ at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center with the preliminary result Aγ = (−1.2 ± 2.1(stat.) ± 0.1(sys.)) × 10−7, reproducing the previous upper limit from a measurement at a reactor facility. We discuss the theoretical background and experimental method and report on preliminary analysis of the LANSCE data. The second phase of the program to measure Aγ is in progress at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Measurement of Parity‐Violating Gamma‐ray Asymmetry in Compound Nuclei with Cold Neutrons

The NPDGamma collaboration has constructed and commissioned an apparatus on flight path 12 at LANSCE to measure with a high precision, 5×10−9, the small parity‐violating gamma‐ray asymmetry, Aγ, in polarized neutron capture on protons. This asymmetry can be determined unambiguously the weak pion‐nucleon coupling constant. To study the hadronic weak interaction at low energy, the collaboration has used the NPDGamma apparatus to measure parity‐violating gamma‐ray asymmetries in compound nuclei with cold neutrons. Using the statistical model of compound nuclei and spectroscopic information of the target nuclei, we can set upper limit on the spreading width of the hadronic weak interaction for intermediate‐mass nuclei. We describe the experiment and the preliminary results of measured gamma‐ray asymmetries of Al, Sc, Ti, Mn, and Co.

The 2004 NPDGamma Commissioning Run‐Measurement of Parity‐Violating Gamma‐Ray Asymmetries in Neutron Capture on Al, Cu, Cl, In, and B

The NPDGamma experiment will measure with a high precision, 5×10−9, the small parity‐violating gamma‐ray asymmetry, Aγ, in polarized cold neutron capture in a para‐hydrogen target to determine unambiguously the weak pion‐nucleon coupling constant Hπ1. For the experiment the collaboration has built a new high‐flux pulsed cold neutron beam line at LANSCE. In 2004, we first commissioned the beam line and then the apparatus with exception of the hydrogen target. The sensitivity of the apparatus was tested by measuring Aγ on Al, B, Cl, Cu, and In. The Cl has a well‐known large parity‐violating gamma‐ray asymmetry that was used to verify the performance of the apparatus. The other nuclei that were studied during the commissioning run are present in materials used for construction of the experiment and are, therefore, possible sources of the false asymmetries since backgrounds are expected to be about 10% of the signal from the neutron capture on hydrogen. We measured Aγ≈0 for these nuclei except for Cl. We repo...

A Low‐Noise CsI Detector Array for the Precision Measurement of Parity Nonconservation in n⃗ + p → d + γ

We have built a CsI(Tl) γ‐ray detector array for the NPDGamma experiment to search for a small parity‐violating directional asymmetry in the angular distribution of 2.2 MeV γ‐rays from the capture of polarized cold neutrons by protons with a sensitivity of several ppb. The weak pion‐nucleon coupling constant can be determined from this asymmetry. The small size of the asymmetry requires control of systematic errors at the ppb level, and the use of current‐mode γ‐ray detection with vacuum photo diodes and low‐noise solid‐state preamplifiers. The detectors were tested for noise performance, sensitivity to magnetic fields, pedestal stability, and cosmic background. False asymmetries due to gain changes and electronic pickup in the detector system were measured to be consistent with zero to an accuracy of 10−9 in a few hours. We show that the detector array operates at counting statistics and present asymmetry results for B4C , CCl4 , 27Al, Cu, and In. B4C , 27Al, Cu, and In are used throughout the experiment...