Doyle Research will be carried out leading to an improvement in accuracy of the neutron lifetime. A new cooling and trapping technique for neutrons will be developed based on energy dissipation in superfluid helium and trapping within a magnetic well. The lifetime measurement will permit more precise tests of the standard model of electroweak interactions. The experiment will be carried out at the National Institute of Standards and Technology research reactor. This activity is multidisciplinary, bringing together low temperature techniques and nuclear physics techniques as well as understanding of condensed matter, molecular and nuclear phenomena. The new trapping method proposed will also permit development of a new, intense source of ultra-cold neutrons for further nuclear physics studies and for future materials research studies. The lifetime measurement and the possible study of triple correlations in neutron beta-decay are high priority activities in contemporary nuclear physics and studies of fundamental symmetries. Improvement of existing state-of-the-art equipment is integral to this activity. Education of graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs is a strong component in every aspect of this grant. ***

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Physics (PHY)
Application #
9803999
Program Officer
Bradley D. Keister
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1998-07-01
Budget End
2001-03-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
$1,156,410
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02138