A method for an improved measurement of the electron-antineutrino correlation in free neutron beta decay

Type of Work

Article

Date

6-11-2005

Journal Title

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section A-Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment

Journal ISSN

0168-9002

Journal Volume

545

Journal Issue

1-2

First Page

181

Last Page

193

DOI

10.1016/j.nima.2005.01.339

Abstract

The angular correlation between the beta electron and antineutrino in nuclear beta decay is characterized by the dimensionless parameter a. The value of a for free neutron decay, when combined with other neutron decay parameters, can be used to determine the weak vector and axial vector coupling constants g(V) and g(A) and test the validity and self-consistency of the Electroweak Standard Model. Previous experiments that measured a in neutron decay relied on precise proton spectroscopy and were limited by systematic effects at about the 5% level. We present a new approach to measuring a for which systematic uncertainties promise to be much smaller. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hamilton Areas of Study

Physics

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