Electron-neutrino angular correlation coefficient a measured from free-neutron decay
Abstract
Measurements of the electron-neutrino angular correlation coefficient a in the free-neutron decay are reported. The method is based on the measurement of the energy spectrum of recoil protons obtained from neutrons inside a highly evacuated tangential reactor beam tube. Spectroscopy was done outside the reactor shielding by means of an electrostatic condenser and an ion-electron converter detector of the coincidence type. The result, based on 30 measured proton-energy spectra, is a=-0.099+/-0.011, giving |GAGV|=1.250+/-0.036. Thus a considerable improvement in accuracy concerning the measurement of a of the free unpolarized neutron has been achieved. The result is in good agreement with the data obtained from polarized neutron decay.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review D
- Pub Date:
- February 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.11.510
- Bibcode:
- 1975PhRvD..11..510D