S. I. Penttilä

Precision measurement of the proton and deuteron spin structure functions g2 and asymmetries A2

We have measured the spin structure functions g{sub 2}{sup p} and g{sub 2}{sup d} and the virtual photon asymmetries A{sub 2}{sup p} and A{sub 2}{sup d} over the kinematic range 0.02 {le} x {le} 0.8 and 0.7 {le} Q{sup 2} {le} 20 GeV{sup 2} by scattering 29.1 and 32.3 GeV longitudinally polarized electrons from transversely polarized NH{sub 3} and {sup 6}LiD targets. Our measured g{sub 2} approximately follows the twist-2 Wandzura-Wilczek calculation. The twist-3 reduced matrix elements d{sub 2}{sup p} and d{sub 2}{sup n} are less than two standard deviations from zero. The data are inconsistent with the Burkhardt-Cottingham sum rule if there is no pathological behavior as x {yields} 0. The Efremov-Leader-Teryaev integral is consistent with zero within our measured kinematic range. The absolute value of A{sub 2} is significantly smaller than the A{sub 2} < {radical}(R(1+A{sub 1})/2) limit.

Nab: Measurement principles, apparatus and uncertainties

The Nab collaboration will perform a precise measurement of a, the electron-neutrino correlation parameter, and b, the Fierz interference term in neutron beta decay, in the Fundamental Neutron Physics Beamline at the SNS, using a novel electric/magnetic field spectrometer and detector design. The experiment is aiming at the 10{sup -3} accuracy level in {Delta}a/a, and will provide an independent measurement of {lambda} = G{sub A}/G{sub V}, the ratio of axial-vector to vector coupling constants of the nucleon. Nab also plans to perform the first ever measurement of b in neutron decay, which will provide an independent limit on the tensor weak coupling.

Measurement of the parity violating asymmetry Aγ in n→+p→d+γ

The weak pion-nucleon coupling constant H{sub {pi}}{sup 1} remains poorly determined, despite many years of effort. The recent measurement of the {sup 133}Cs anapole moment has been interpreted to give a value of H{sub {pi}}{sup 1} almost an order of magnitude larger than the limit established in the {sup 18}F parity doublet experiments. A measurement of the gamma ray directional asymmetry A{sub {gamma}} for the capture of polarized neutrons by hydrogen has been proposed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This experiment will determine H{sub {pi}}{sup 1} independent of nuclear structure effects. However, since the predicted asymmetry is small, A{sub {gamma}} {approximately} 5 x 10{sup {minus}8}, systematic effects must be reduced to < 5 x 10{sup {minus}9}. The design of the experiment will is presented, with an emphasis on the techniques used for controlling systematic errors.

Parity violation in compound nuclei: experimental methods and recent results

Abstract The TRIPLE Collaboration studies of space-parity symmetry in the compound nucleus show numerous examples of parity violation in Br, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, I, Cs, Xe, La, U, and Th. The longitudinal cross section asymmetries have measured values in the range of 10−3–10−1 for neutron energies from several eV up to 300– 2000 eV , depending on the target. The high density of states leads to enhancement of the parity violation by factors as large as 106 relative to parity violation in pp scattering. The high degree of complexity of the levels permits the use of statistical methods for determination of the root mean square weak matrix element M for each nucleus. This report is focused on the experimental results of the TRIPLE Collaboration studies. Parity violation has been observed in 75 resonances of 18 nuclides. The experimental data and analysis are presented for each nuclide studied. A nonstatistical anomaly (the sign correlation effect) was observed in thorium. Statistical analysis techniques were developed and successfully applied to determine the rms weak matrix elements and the weak spreading widths Γw. The value of Γw obtained from our analysis is about 1.8×10 −7 eV , which is in qualitative agreement with theoretical expectations. The individual weak spreading widths are consistent with a constant or slowly varying mass dependence and there is evidence for local fluctuations.

A measurement of the absolute neutron beam polarization produced by an optically pumped 3He neutron spin filter

Abstract The capability of performing accurate absolute measurements of neutron beam polarization opens a number of exciting opportunities in fundamental neutron physics and in neutron scattering. At the LANSCE pulsed neutron source we have measured the neutron beam polarization with an absolute accuracy of 0.3% in the neutron energy range from 40 meV to 10 eV using an optically pumped polarized 3 He spin filter and a relative transmission measurement technique. 3 He was polarized using the Rb spin-exchange method. We describe the measurement technique, present our results, and discuss some of the systematic effects associated with the method.

Storage of Ultracold Neutrons in the Magneto-Gravitational Trap of the UCN Experiment

The UCN experiment is designed to measure the lifetime n of the free neutron by trapping ultracold neutrons (UCN) in a magneto-gravitational trap. An asymmetric bowl-shaped NdFeB magnet Halbach array confines low-field-seeking UCN within the apparatus, and a set of electromagnetic coils in a toroidal geometry provides a background holding field to eliminate depolarization-induced UCN loss caused by magnetic field nodes. We present a measurement of the storage time store of the trap by storing UCN for various times and counting the survivors. The data are consistent with a single exponential decay, and we find store = 860 19 s, within 1 of current global averages for n. The storage time with the holding field deactivated is found to be store = 470 160 s; this decreased storage time is due to the loss of UCN, which undergo Majorana spin flips while being stored. We discuss plans to increase the statistical sensitivity of the measurement and investigate potential systematic effects.

Ion chamber system for neutron flux measurements

Abstract A helium-filled ion chamber detector for intensity measurements of high-intensity epithermal neutron bursts with instantaneous rates as high as 10 11 Hz is presented. This system consists of an ion chamber to detect a portion of the neutron beam, a current-to-frequency converter and CAMAC scalers to readout the chamber. The chambers and readout electronics have a small temperature sensitivity and have high noise immunity. The statistical precision of the system is measured to be 10 −3 for each neutron beam pulse.

Measurements of ΔσL (np) between 500 and 800 MeV

Abstract A measurement of Δσ L (np), the difference between neutron-proton total cross sections in pure longitudinal spin states, is described. Data were taken for five energies between 500 and 800 MeV, with statistical errors of ≈ 1.5 mb and an estimated normalization error of 6%. The data, combined with other results, show some evidence for an elastic I =0 spin-singlet resonance with mass ∼ 2213 MeV and width ∼ 74 MeV, or a coupled-triplet resonance with similar mass and width.

Neutron Beam Effects on Spin-Exchange-Polarized 3He

We have observed depolarization effects when high intensity cold neutron beams are incident on alkali-metal spin-exchange-polarized 3He cells used as neutron spin filters. This was first observed as a reduction of the maximum attainable 3He polarization and was attributed to a decrease of alkali-metal polarization, which led us to directly measure alkali-metal polarization and spin relaxation over a range of neutron fluxes at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and Institute Laue-Langevin. The data reveal a new alkali-metal spin-relaxation mechanism that approximately scales as sqrt[phi_{n}], where phi_{n} is the neutron capture-flux density incident on the cell. This is consistent with an effect proportional to the concentration of electron-ion pairs but is much larger than expected from earlier work.

A measurement of parity-violating gamma-ray asymmetries in polarized cold neutron capture on 35Cl, 113Cd, and 139La

Abstract An apparatus for measuring parity-violating asymmetries in gamma-ray emission following polarized cold neutron capture was constructed as a 1/10th scale test of the design for the forthcoming n → + p → d + γ experiment at LANSCE. The elements of the polarized neutron beam, including a polarized 3 He neutron spin filter and a radio frequency neutron spin rotator, are described. Using CsI(Tl) detectors and photodiode current mode readout, measurements were made of asymmetries in gamma-ray emission following neutron capture on 35 Cl , 113 Cd , and 139 La targets. Upper limits on the parity-allowed asymmetry s n ·( k γ × k n ) were set at the level of 7×10 −6 for all three targets. Parity-violating asymmetries s n · k γ were observed in 35 Cl , A γ =(−29.1±6.7)×10 −6 , and 139 La , A γ =(−15.5±7.1)×10 −6 , values consistent with previous measurements.