A Solid Deuterium Source for Ultra-Cold Neutrons
Abstract
A new superthermal solid deuterium based source for ultra-cold neutrons (UCN) is under development at Los Alamos. This source will be used to provide the UCN for an improved measurement of the beta-asymmetry in neutron decay. In this super-thermal source, UCN are produced by down-scattering of cold neutrons. These cold neutrons are produced by the LANSCE proton beam incident on a tungsten spallation target which is closely coupled to the UCN source. Predictions suggest that this source should provide much greater UCN rates than existing sources. Production tests conducted over the last year have yielded UCN rates sufficient (scaled to greater proton beam flux) for the beta-asymmetry measurment. A detailed description of the source, results of the production tests, and planned future improvements to the source will be presented. Comparisons of the production rates with calculations will be presented in the following talk.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Nuclear Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 1999
- Bibcode:
- 1999APS..DNP..CG09S