Ultracold Neutron Energy Spectrum and Storage Properties from Magnetically Induced Spin Depolarization
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present a novel method for extracting the energy spectrum of ultracold neutrons from magnetically induced spin depolarization measurements using the n2EDM apparatus. This method is also used to exploit sensitivity to the storage properties of the materials used to trap ultracold neutrons, specifically, whether collisions are specular or diffuse. To do so, we utilize t simulation to map storage properties to correlation times of the ultracold neutrons to induced magnetic nonuniformities. We highlight the sensitivity of this new technique by comparing the two different storage chambers of the n2EDM experiment, which host different ultracold neutron energy spectra. This method should prove to be invaluable to assess systematic effects in experiments utilizing spin-polarized systems with precise magnetic control and long spin-spin coherence time relative to the observation time, such as neutron electric dipole moment and neutron lifetime experiments worldwide.
Source: Physical Review Letters
DOI: 10.1103/hspm-dwkn
Authors: N. J. Ayres, G. Ban, G. Bison, K. Bodek, V. Bondar, T. Bouillaud, D. Bowles, G. L. Caratsch, E. Chanel, W. Chen, P.-J. Chiu, C. B. Crawford, V. Czamler, M. Daum, C. B. Doorenbos, M. Ferry, M. Fertl, A. Fratangelo, D. Galbinski, W. C. Griffith, Z. D. Grujic, K. Kirch, V. Kletzl, B. Lauss, T. Lefort, A. Lejuez, R. Li, K. Michielsen, J. Micko, P. Mullan, A. Mullins, O. Naviliat-Cuncic, D. Pais, F. M. Piegsa, G. Pignol, C. Pistillo, D. Rebreyend, I. Rienäcker, D. Ries, S. Roccia, D. Rozpedzik, W. Saenz-Arevalo, L. Sanchez-Real Zielniewicz, P. Schmidt-Wellenburg, E. P. Segarra, L. Segner, N. Severijns, K. Svirina, K. S. Tanaka, J. Thorne, J. Vankeirsbilck, N. von Schickh, N. Yazdandoost, J. Zejma, N. Ziehl, G. Zsigmond
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,750
Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, University of Bern, Institute of Physics Belgrade, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, KU Leuven, Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja, Ministry of Education and Science, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Science and Technology Facilities Council, European Research Council, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Awards: G1069399987, G1248355524, STFC 2021 Particle Physics Review of Experiments and Experimental Consolidated Grants, Precision Physics with Muons and Ultracold Neutrons II, G2322385174, Search for signals of physics beyond the Standard Model with n2EDM at PSI, G2620896978, G2816521819, Spin-spectroscopy with ultracold neutrons - Searching for dark matter and lorentz violation using spin-precessing neutrons, Manetometry for an upgraded n2EDM experiment, G3543063619, A novel neutronics model of the solid D2 ultracold neutron converter at PSI aiming for increasing the source intensity, International, Interdisciplinary and Intersectoral Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Paul Scherrer Institut, G3672788121, Study of neutronics and its influence on data-analysis and systematics in the n2EDM experiment, Toward a measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment, STFC Experimental Particle Physics 2018 Consolidated Grant, G5066650221, Highly accurate vector gradiometers for a next-generation neutron EDM experiment, G5608225264, G5944421943, Improving ultracold neutron intensities for frontier precision experiments in fundamental physics, PRECISION MEASUREMENTS WITH NEUTRONS, G7199728868, Cs magnetometer array for the n2EDM experiment, A new search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron with increased sensitivity and an improved UCN source., Low Energy Particle Physics with Cold and Ultracold Neutrons, Systematic Effects in Electric Dipole Searches at the Paul Scherrer Institute
OpenAlex ID: W7105209393