PhysRevLett 115 162502 (002).pdf (2.52 MB)
Observation of gravitationally induced vertical striation of polarized ultracold neutrons by spin-echo spectroscopy
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 01:19 authored by S Afach, N J Ayres, G Ban, G Bison, K Bodek, Z Chowdhuri, M Daum, M Fertl, B Franke, Clark GriffithClark Griffith, Z D Grujic, Philip Harris, W Heil, V Hélaine, M Kasprzak, Y Kermaidic, K Kirch, P Knowles, H -C Koch, S Komposch, A Kozela, J Krempel, B Lauss, T Lefort, Y Lemière, A Mtchedlishvili, M Musgrave, O Naviliat-Cuncic, J M Pendlebury, F M Piegsa, G Pignol, C Plonka-Spehr, P N Prashanth, G Quéméner, M Rawlik, D Rebreyend, D Ries, S Roccia, D Rozpedzik, P Schmidt-Wellenburg, N Severijns, J A Thorne, A Weis, E Wursten, G Wyszynski, J Zejma, J Zenner, G ZsigmondWe describe a spin-echo method for ultracold neutrons (UCNs) confined in a precession chamber and exposed to a |B 0 |=1??µT magnetic field. We have demonstrated that the analysis of UCN spin-echo resonance signals in combination with knowledge of the ambient magnetic field provides an excellent method by which to reconstruct the energy spectrum of a confined ensemble of neutrons. The method takes advantage of the relative dephasing of spins arising from a gravitationally induced striation of stored UCNs of different energies, and also permits an improved determination of the vertical magnetic-field gradient with an exceptional accuracy of 1.1??pT/cm . This novel combination of a well-known nuclear resonance method and gravitationally induced vertical striation is unique in the realm of nuclear and particle physics and should prove to be invaluable for the assessment of systematic effects in precision experiments such as searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron or the measurement of the neutron lifetime.
Funding
Neutron EDM; G1558; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/M003426/1
Consolidated Grant; G0927; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/K001329/1
Magnetic Field Uniformity and Ultracold Neutron Storage Optimization for CryoEDM; G1288; STFC-SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL; ST/L006472/1
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Physical Review LettersISSN
0031-9007Publisher
American Physical SocietyExternal DOI
Issue
16Volume
115Page range
1-6Article number
a162502Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-05-20First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-09-29First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-05-19Usage metrics
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