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Neutron lifetime with a cold neutron beam at NIST

Shannon Fogwell Hoogerheide (NIST)
Monday, November 4, 2019 - 2:30pm
NPL 178

Neutron beta decay is the simplest example of nuclear beta decay and a precise value of the neutron lifetime is important for consistency tests of the Standard Model and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis models. There is currently some disagreement among various measurements of the neutron lifetime, with the results of two experiments using cold neutron beams being higher than several experiments using trapped ultracold neutrons. A new measurement of the neutron lifetime, utilizing the beam method, is underway at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research. This measurement is focused on understanding systematic effects in the beam method. An overview of neutron lifetime measurement techniques and current status will be presented. A review of the beam method and the technical improvements in this experiment will be given and the status and outlook of the experiment will be discussed.

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