SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

I. Ide

Publications and source records attributed to I. Ide.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Development of a Modular Current-Mode NaI(Tl) Detector Array for Parity Odd (n,{\gamma}) Cross Section Measurements

The Neutron Optics Parity and Time-Reversal Violation Experiment (NOPTREX) Collaboration has developed a modular array of 24 NaI(Tl) detectors to measure parity and time-reversal symmetry violation in neutron-nucleus interactions. These detectors feature custom electronics that allow for operation in pulse or current mode. This paper describes the design, construction, characterization, and testing of the detectors in this array. We demonstrate the ability of the array to detect parity-odd asymmetries in neutron resonances by observing the known 0.7 eV parity-violating resonance in 139La in measurements at LANSCE.

physics.ins-det

Ultracold Neutron Guide-Coating Facility at U.Winnipeg

We report the construction and commissioning of a new ultracold neutron (UCN) guide-coating facility at the University of Winnipeg. The facility employs pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to produce diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings on cylindrical UCN guides up to 1 m in length with a 200 mm outer diameter. DLC is a promising material for UCN transport and storage due to its high real component of the optical potential, low neutron absorption cross section, and low depolarization probabilities. First coating attempts on a full length aluminum UCN guide and matching blank flange were successfully coated with a carbon film with density of 2.3 g/cm$^3$, corresponding to optical potentials of 200 neV, as measured by X-ray reflectometry (XRR). Coating thicknesses were measured to be 90 nm for the UCN guide and 180 nm for the flange with no evidence of delamination. The implementation of a plasma plume collimator and plasma feed back control via a time of flight in vacuum ion probe produced a film with an XRR measured density of 2.8 g/cm$^3$, corresponding to an optical potential of 240 neV. This 80 nm thick film had poor adhesion to the aluminum tube substrate. These results establish a baseline for the coating facility. Ongoing and future work focuses on improving the diamond content of films and adhesion through plasma plume collimation, TOF ion probe feed back, and pre/post treatment methods with the goal of providing high quality DLC UCN guides for the TUCAN experiment at TRIUMF.

physics.ins-det

Initial results of the TRIUMF ultracold advanced neutron source

We report the first results on ultracold neutron production from a new spallation-driven superfluid $^4$He (He-II) source at TRIUMF, which is being prepared for a new, precise measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment. A total of $(9.3 \pm 0.8)\times 10^{5}$ ultracold neutrons were observed at a proton beam current of \SI{37}{\uA}, when the target was irradiated for a period of \SI{60}{\s}. The results are in fair agreement with expectations based on a detailed simulation of neutron transport and ultracold neutron source cryogenics. There is some indication that the new source might not be as limited by the conduction of heat through the He-II as originally expected. The results indicate that the source is likely to make its ultimate production goals, once the liquid deuterium cold moderator system is completed, with the expectation that $5.7\times 10^7$~UCNs would be detected in the same experiment with full liquid levels. This would, for example, correspond to delivery of $1.4\times 10^6$~UCNs delivered to each of two nEDM measurement cells, and a statistical uncertainty of $1\times 10^{-27}~e$cm on the neutron EDM in 280 days of running.

nucl-ex

High sensitivity of a future search for P-odd/T-odd interactions on the 0.75 eV $p$-wave resonance in $\vec{n}+^{139}\vec{\rm La}$ forward transmission determined using pulsed neutron beam

Neutron transmission experiments can offer a new type of highly sensitive search for time-reversal invariance violating (TRIV) effects in nucleon-nucleon interactions via the same enhancement mechanism observed for large parity violating (PV) effects in neutron-induced compound nuclear processes. In these compound processes, the TRIV cross-section is given as the product of the PV cross-section, a spin-factor $\kappa$, and a ratio of TRIV and PV matrix elements. We determined $\kappa$ to be $0.59\pm0.05$ for $^{139}$La+$n$ using both $(n, \gamma)$ spectroscopy and ($\vec{n}+^{139}\vec{\rm La}$) transmission. This result quantifies for the first time the high sensitivity of the $^{139}$La 0.75~eV $p$-wave resonance in a future search for P-odd/T-odd interactions in ($\vec{n}+^{139}\vec{\rm La}$) forward transmission.

nucl-ex

Spin dependence in the $p$-wave resonance of ${^{139}\vec{\rm{La}}+\vec{n}}$

We measured the spin dependence in a neutron-induced $p$-wave resonance by using a polarized epithermal neutron beam and a polarized nuclear target. Our study focuses on the 0.75~eV $p$-wave resonance state of $^{139}$La+$n$, where largely enhanced parity violation has been observed. We determined the partial neutron width of the $p$-wave resonance by measuring the spin dependence of the neutron absorption cross section between polarized $^{139}\rm{La}$ and polarized neutrons. Our findings serve as a foundation for the quantitative study of the enhancement effect of the discrete symmetry violations caused by mixing between partial amplitudes in the compound nuclei.

nucl-ex

Characterization of electroless nickel-phosphorus plating for ultracold-neutron storage

Electroless nickel plating is an established industrial process that provides a robust and relatively low-cost coating suitable for transporting and storing ultracold neutrons (UCN). Using roughness measurements and UCN-storage experiments we characterized UCN guides made from polished aluminum or stainless-steel tubes plated by several vendors. All electroless nickel platings were similarly suited for UCN storage with an average loss probability per wall bounce of $2.8\cdot10^{-4}$ to $4.1\cdot10^{-4}$ for energies between 90 neV and 190 neV, or a ratio of imaginary to real Fermi potential $\eta$ of $1.7\cdot10^{-4}$ to $3.3\cdot10^{-4}$. Measurements at different elevations indicate that the energy dependence of UCN losses is well described by the imaginary Fermi potential. Some special considerations are required to avoid an increase in surface roughness during the plating process and hence a reduction in UCN transmission. Increased roughness had only a minor impact on storage properties. Based on these findings we chose a vendor to plate the UCN-production vessel that will contain the superfluid-helium converter for the new TRIUMF UltraCold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) source, achieving acceptable UCN-storage properties with ${\eta=3.5(5)\cdot10^{-4}}$.

nucl-ex

Measurement of nuclear spin relaxation time in lanthanum aluminate for development of polarized lanthanum target

The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time ($T_1$) of lanthanum and aluminum nuclei in a single crystal of lanthanum aluminate doped with neodymium ions is studied to estimate the feasibility of the dynamically polarized lanthanum target applicable to beam experiments. The application of our interest is the study of fundamental discrete symmetries in the spin optics of epithermal neutrons. This study requires a highly flexible choice of the applied magnetic field for neutron spin control and favors longer $T_1$ under lower magnetic field and at higher temperature. The $T_1$ of $^{139}{\rm La}$ and ${}^{27}{\rm Al}$ was measured under magnetic fields of $0.5$-$2.5$ T and at temperatures of $0.1$-$1.5$ K and found widely distributed up to 100 h. The result suggests that the $T_1$ can be as long as $T_1 \sim$ 1 h at $0.1$ K with a magnetic field of $0.1$ T, which partially fulfills the requirement of the neutron beam experiment. Possible improvements to achieve a longer $T_1$ are discussed.

physics.ins-det

Monitoring the build-up of hydrogen polarization for polarized Hydrogen-Deuteride (HD) targets with NMR at 17 Tesla

We report on the frozen-spin polarized hydrogen--deuteride (HD) targets for photoproduction experiments at SPring-8/LEPS. Pure HD gas with a small amount of ortho-H2 (~0.1%) was liquefied and solidified by liquid helium. The temperature of the produced solid HD was reduced to about 30 mK with a dilution refrigerator. A magnetic field (17 T) was applied to the HD to grow the polarization with the static method. After the aging of the HD at low temperatures in the presence of a high-magnetic field strength for 3 months, the polarization froze. Almost all ortho-H2 molecules were converted to para-H2 molecules that exhibited weak spin interactions with the HD. If the concentration of the ortho-H2 was reduced at the beginning of the aging process, the aging time can be shortened. We have developed a new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system to measure the relaxation times (T1) of the 1H and 2H nuclei with two frequency sweeps at the respective frequencies of 726 and 111 MHz, and succeeded in the monitoring of the polarization build-up at decreasing temperatures from 600 to 30 mK at 17 T. This technique enables us to optimize the concentration of the ortho-H2 and to efficiently polarize the HD target within a shortened aging time.

physics.ins-det