The β-ν correlation of optically trapped ^21Na atoms
Abstract
The beta-neutrino correlation coefficient, a_βν, is being measured in the beta-decay of magneto-optically trapped ^21Na neutral atoms. Up to 800,000 radioactive ^21Na atoms are produced on-line at the 88-inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and collected in a spherical volume with a diameter of less than 0.8 mm. The low-energy ^21Ne daughter nuclei are guided onto an MCP using static electric fields, and detected in coincidence with the electrons shaken off during the beta-decay process. The recoil kinetics are reconstructed from the time-of-flight of the daughter nuclei and the beta-neutrino correlation is inferred. Limits on scalar and tensor interactions beyond the Standard Model can be set by precision measurements of the correlation parameters. We will discuss the status of the experiment and our studies of systematic effects.
- Publication:
-
APS Division of Nuclear Physics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004APS..DNP.JG007M