TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES 1999 - NISTIR 6438

Half section view of the ultracold neutron trapping apparatus. The trap is loaded through inelastic scattering of cold neutrons (11 K) with phonons in superfluid helium-4. Trapped neutrons are detected when they beta decay; energetic decay electrons ionize helium atoms in the superfluid resulting in efficient conversion of electron kinetic energy into light (scintillation). Neutrons have a lifetime in the trap limited primarily by their beta-decay.

MISSION / ORGANIZATION
CURRENT DIRECTIONS
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
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TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES 1999 - Contents

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Online: April 2000