Long distance propagation of a polarized neutron beam in zero magnetic field
Abstract
A beam of fully polarized cold neutrons was transported through a zero magnetic field region of 70 m length without loss of polarization. The purpose of this exercise was twofold: firstly, to demonstrate that the new zero-field neutron spin-echo method will work also for very long neutron flight paths; secondly, to prove in the most direct way that the neutron free-flight region of the ILL neutron-antineutron oscillation experiment was indeed sufficiently field-free ("quasifree condition") by using the neutrons themselves as a magnetometer. To this purpose the residual magnetic field integrals in the long "zero-field" region were measured with a conventional neutron spin-echo method. The overall spin precession angle of the neutrons during their flight through the long zero-field region was found to be less than 2°.
- Publication:
-
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A
- Pub Date:
- September 1992
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0168-9002(92)90952-Z
- Bibcode:
- 1992NIMPA.320..569S