S. L. Stephenson

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.

Direct measurement of the neutron–neutron scattering cross section at the reactor YAGUAR

We propose to perform the first measurement of the neutron–neutron scattering cross section in the through-channel of the pulsed aperiodic reactor YAGUAR (Snezhinsk, Russia). Such a measurement directly determines the neutron–neutron scattering length, and by comparison with the proton–proton scattering length bears upon the issue of charge symmetry of the nuclear force. The proposed experimental set-up, as well as modelling of the neutron density and of the frequency of neutron–neutron collisions is described. Experimental results are reported on the formation and optimization of the thermal neutron field inside the through-channel of the reactor YAGUAR. The instantaneous value of 1.1 × 1018 cm−2 s−1 obtained for the thermal neutron flux density is large enough to perform the first direct neutron–neutron scattering length measurement.

Calculations of neutron spectra after neutron–neutron scattering

A direct neutron–neutron scattering length, ann, measurement with the goal of 3% accuracy (0.5 fm) is under preparation at the aperiodic pulsed reactor YAGUAR. A direct measurement of ann will not only help resolve conflicting results of ann by indirect means, but also in comparison to the proton–proton scattering length, app, shed light on the charge-symmetry of the nuclear force. We discuss in detail the analysis of the nn-scattering data in terms of a simple analytical expression. We also discuss calibration measurements using the time-of-flight spectra of neutrons scattered on He and Ar gases and the neutron activation technique. In particular, we calculate the neutron velocity and time-of-flight spectra after scattering neutrons on neutrons and after scattering neutrons on He and Ar atoms for the proposed experimental geometry, using a realistic neutron flux spectrum—Maxwellian plus epithermal tail. The shape of the neutron spectrum after scattering is appreciably different from the initial spectrum, due to collisions between thermal–thermal and thermal–epithermal neutrons. At the same time, the integral over the Maxwellian part of the realistic scattering spectrum differs by only about 6 per cent from that of a pure Maxwellian nn-scattering spectrum.

Population of Be-13 in a nucleon exchange reaction

The neutron-unbound nucleus 13Be was populated with a nucleon-exchange reaction from a 71 MeV/u secondary 13B beam. The decay energy spectrum was reconstructed using invariant mass spectroscopy based on 12Be fragments in coincidence with neutrons. The data could be described with an s-wave resonance at E = 0.73(9) MeV with a width of Gamma = 1.98(34) MeV and a d-wave resonance at E = 2.56(13) MeV with a width of Gamma = 2.29(73) MeV. The observed spectral shape is consistent with previous one-proton removal reaction measurements from 14B.

A High-Rate Detection System to Study Parity Violation with Polarized Epithermal Neutrons at LANSCE

Abstract We describe an apparatus for studies of parity violation in neutron-nucleus scattering. This experiment requires longitudinally polarized neutrons from the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center over the energy range from 1 to 1000 eV, the ability to reverse the neutron spin without otherwise affecting the apparatus, the ability to detect neutrons at rates up to 500 MHz and an appropriate data acquisition system. We will discuss the neutron polarizer, fast neutron spin reverser, detector for transmitted neutrons and high rate data acquisition system.

A Direct Measurement of the Neutron-Neutron Scattering Length

A direct measurement of nn-scattering by colliding free neutrons has never been performed. Indirect measurements continue to provide inconsistent results, leaving the issue of charge symmetry in the nuclear force unresolved. At present the Russian pulsed reactor YAGUAR is the best neutron source for such a measurement. A neutron moderator is installed in the central through channel and the scattered neutrons are detected at a distance of 12 m from the reactor. An instantaneous value of 1.1 × 1018/cm2s was obtained for the thermal neutron flux density. The experiment will be performed by the DIANNA Collaboration as ISTC project No. 2286.

Apparatus for parity-violation study via capture γ-ray measurements

Abstract The Time Reversal and Parity at Low Energy (TRIPLE) Collaboration uses a short-pulsed longitudinally polarized epithermal neutron beam at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center to study spatial parity violation (PV) in the compound nucleus. The typical PV experiment measures the longitudinal cross-section asymmetry by the neutron transmission method through thick samples. Neutron capture γ-ray measurement provides an alternative method for the study of PV, which enables the use of smaller amounts of isotopically pure target material. In 1995 TRIPLE commissioned a new neutron-capture detector consisting of 24 pure CsI scintillators arranged in a cylindrical geometry around the neutron beam. The characteristics and the performance of the detector and spin transport are described.

Direct Measurement of Neutron-Neutron Scattering

In order to resolve long‐standing discrepancies in indirect measurements of the neutron‐neutron scattering length ann and contribute to solving the problem of the charge symmetry of the nuclear force, the collaboration DIANNA (Direct Investigation of ann Association) plans to measure the neutron‐neutron scattering cross section σnn. The key issue of our approach is the use of the through‐channel in the Russia reactor YAGUAR with a peak neutron flux of 1018 /cm2/s. The proposed experimental setup is described. Results of calculations are presented to connect σnn with the nn‐collision detector count rate and the neutron flux density in the reactor channel. Measurements of the thermal neutron fields inside polyethylene converters show excellent prospects for the realization of the direct nn‐experiment.

Structure and Decay Correlations of Two-Neutron Systems Beyond the Dripline

The two-neutron unbound systems of 16Be, 13Li, 10He, and 26O have been measured using the Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) and 4 Tm Sweeper magnet setup. The correlations of the 3-body decay for the 6Be and 3Li were extracted and demonstrated a strong correlated enhancement between the two neutrons. The measurement of the 10He ground state resonance from a 14Be(-2p2n) reaction provided insight into previous predictions that wavefunction of the entrance channel, projectile, can influence the observed decay energy spectrum for the unbound system. Lastly, the decay-in-target (DiT) technique was utilized to extract the lifetime of the 26O ground state. The measured lifetime of 4.5+1.1−1.5(stat.)±3(sys.) ps provides the first indication of two-neutron radioactivity.

First Observation of 15Be

The neutron-unbound nucleus 15Be was observed for the first time. It was populated using neutron transfer from a deuterated polyethylene target with a 59 MeV/u 14Be beam. Neutrons were measured in coincidence with outgoing 14Be particles and the reconstructed decay energy spectrum exhibits a resonance at 1.8(1) MeV. This corresponds to 15Be being unbound by 0.45 MeV more then 16Be thus significantly hindering the sequential two-neutron decay of 16Be to 14Be through this state.