Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: The ultracold neutron (UCN) source at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) provides high intensities of storable neutrons for fundamental physics experiments. The neutron velocity spectrum parallel to the beamline axis was determined by time-of-flight spectroscopy using a neutron chopper. In particular, the temporal evolution of the spectrum during neutron production and UCN storage in the source storage volume was investigated and compared to Monte Carlo simulation results. A softening of the measured spectrum from a mean velocity of 7.7(1)–5.1(1) $$\hbox {m s}^{-1}$$ m s - 1 occurred within the first 30 $$\hbox {s}$$ s after the proton beam pulse had impinged on the spallation target. A spectral hardening was observed over longer time scales of one measurement day, consistent with the effect of surface degradation of the solid deuterium moderator.
Source: The European Physical Journal A
Institutions: Paul Scherrer Institute, ETH Zurich
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,590
Awards: Precision Physics with Muons and Ultracold Neutrons II, Spin-spectroscopy with ultracold neutrons - Searching for dark matter and lorentz violation using spin-precessing neutrons, A novel neutronics model of the solid D2 ultracold neutron converter at PSI aiming for increasing the source intensity, Highly accurate vector gradiometers for a next-generation neutron EDM experiment, Improving ultracold neutron intensities for frontier precision experiments in fundamental physics, A new search for an electric dipole moment of the neutron with increased sensitivity and an improved UCN source.
OpenAlex ID: W4386861271