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Nuclear transmutation is the conversion of one nuclide into another. It can occur by the radioactive decay of a nucleus, or the reaction of a nucleus with another particle. The first manmade nucleus was produced in Ernest Rutherford’s laboratory in 1919 by a transmutation reaction, the bombardment of one type of nuclei with other nuclei or with neutrons. Rutherford bombarded nitrogen-14 atoms with high-speed α particles from a natural radioactive isotope of radium and observed...
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Improved Neutron Lifetime Measurement with UCNτ.

F M Gonzalez1,2,3, E M Fries4, C Cude-Woods5,6

  • 1Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.

Physical Review Letters
|November 1, 2021
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers precisely measured the free neutron lifetime (τn) using ultracold neutrons (UCNs) in a magnetogravitational trap. The new measurement, 877.75±0.28 seconds, refines our understanding of neutron decay within the Standard Model.

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Area of Science:

  • Nuclear Physics
  • Particle Physics
  • Metrology

Background:

  • The free neutron lifetime is a fundamental constant in physics.
  • Previous measurements have shown discrepancies, necessitating improved precision.
  • Understanding neutron decay is crucial for testing the Standard Model of particle physics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a more accurate measurement of the free neutron lifetime.
  • To address discrepancies in existing neutron lifetime data.
  • To test the consistency of the Standard Model with precise neutron decay data.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the UCNτ apparatus at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center.
  • Stored approximately 38×10^6 ultracold neutrons (UCNs) in a magnetogravitational trap.
  • Employed three independent, blinded analyses, including pairing short and long storage times and a global likelihood fit incorporating beta-decay lifetime.

Main Results:

  • Achieved a precise measurement of the free neutron lifetime: τn = 877.75 ± 0.28 (stat) +0.22/-0.16 (syst) seconds.
  • Demonstrated consistency between different analytical techniques.
  • The achieved sensitivity directly probes the impact of recent Standard Model refinements.

Conclusions:

  • The improved neutron lifetime measurement offers a stringent test of the Standard Model.
  • This result contributes to resolving the neutron lifetime puzzle.
  • Further theoretical and experimental work is warranted to fully understand neutron decay processes.