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Cryogenic Design and Performance of an Apparatus for Magnetically Trapping Ultracold Neutrons

Published

Author(s)

Hans P. Mumm

Abstract

The cryogenic design and performance of an apparatus used to magnetically confine ultracold neutrons (UCN) is presented. The apparatus is part of an effort to measure the beta-decay lifetime of the free neutron and is comprised of a high-current supercon- ducting magnetic trap that surrounds ~ 21 l of isotopically pure 4He cooled to approximately 250 mK. A 0.89 nm neutron beam can enter the apparatus from one end of the magnetic trap and a light collection system allows visible light generated within the helium by decays to be transported to detectors at room temperature. Two cryocoolers are incorporated to reduce liquid helium consumption.
Citation
Cryogenics

Keywords

neutronlifetime, magnetictrap, cryocooler, ultracold neutrons

Citation

Mumm, H. (2014), Cryogenic Design and Performance of an Apparatus for Magnetically Trapping Ultracold Neutrons, Cryogenics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2014.09.008 (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created October 5, 2014, Updated November 10, 2018