Detection system for neutron β decay correlations in the UCNB and Nab experiments

Authors

L. J. Broussard, Los Alamos National Laboratory
B. A. Zeck, Los Alamos National Laboratory
E. R. Adamek, Indiana University Bloomington
S. Baeßler, University of Virginia
N. Birge, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M. Blatnik, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. D. Bowman, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
A. E. Brandt, Los Alamos National Laboratory
M. Brown, University of Kentucky
J. Burkhart, Los Alamos National Laboratory
N. B. Callahan, Indiana University Bloomington
S. M. Clayton, Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. Crawford, University of Kentucky
C. Cude-Woods, NC State University
S. Currie, Los Alamos National Laboratory
E. B. Dees, NC State University
X. Ding, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
N. Fomin, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
E. Frlez, University of Virginia
J. Fry, University of Virginia
F. E. Gray, Regis University
S. Hasan, University of Kentucky
K. P. Hickerson, California Institute of Technology
J. Hoagland, NC State University
A. T. Holley, Tennessee Technological University
T. M. Ito, Los Alamos National Laboratory
A. Klein, Los Alamos National Laboratory
H. Li, University of Virginia
C. Y. Liu, Indiana University Bloomington
M. F. Makela, Los Alamos National Laboratory
P. L. McGaughey, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. Mirabal-Martinez, Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. L. Morris, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. D. Ortiz, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-21-2017

Abstract

We describe a detection system designed for precise measurements of angular correlations in neutron β decay. The system is based on thick, large area, highly segmented silicon detectors developed in collaboration with Micron Semiconductor, Ltd. The prototype system meets specifications for β electron detection with energy thresholds below 10 keV, energy resolution of ∼3 keV FWHM, and rise time of ∼50 ns with 19 of the 127 detector pixels instrumented. Using ultracold neutrons at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, we have demonstrated the coincident detection of β particles and recoil protons from neutron β decay. The fully instrumented detection system will be implemented in the UCNB and Nab experiments to determine the neutron β decay parameters B, a, and b.

Recommended Citation

Broussard, L. J.; Zeck, B. A.; Adamek, E. R.; Baeßler, S.; Birge, N.; Blatnik, M.; Bowman, J. D.; Brandt, A. E.; Brown, M.; Burkhart, J.; Callahan, N. B.; Clayton, S. M.; Crawford, C.; Cude-Woods, C.; Currie, S.; Dees, E. B.; Ding, X.; Fomin, N.; Frlez, E.; Fry, J.; Gray, F. E.; Hasan, S.; Hickerson, K. P.; Hoagland, J.; Holley, A. T.; Ito, T. M.; Klein, A.; Li, H.; Liu, C. Y.; Makela, M. F.; McGaughey, P. L.; Mirabal-Martinez, J.; Morris, C. L.; and Ortiz, J. D., "Detection system for neutron β decay correlations in the UCNB and Nab experiments" (2017). Regis University Faculty Publications (comprehensive list). 420.
https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/420