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Ultracold neutron energy spectrum and storage properties from magnetically induced spin depolarization
Authors:
N. J. Ayres,
G. Ban,
G. Bison,
K. Bodek,
V. Bondar,
T. Bouillaud,
D. Bowles,
G. L. Caratsch,
E. Chanel,
W. Chen,
P. -J. Chiu,
C. B. Crawford,
V. Czamler,
M. Daum,
C. B. Doorenbos,
M. Ferry,
M. Fertl,
A. Fratangelo,
D. Galbinski,
W. C. Griffith,
Z. D. Grujic,
K. Kirch,
V. Kletzl,
B. Lauss,
T. Lefort
, et al. (31 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present a novel method for extracting the energy spectrum of ultracold neutrons from magnetically induced spin depolarization measurements using the n2EDM apparatus. This method is also sensitive to the storage properties of the materials used to trap ultracold neutrons, specifically, whether collisions are specular or diffuse. We highlight the sensitivity of this new technique by comparing the…
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We present a novel method for extracting the energy spectrum of ultracold neutrons from magnetically induced spin depolarization measurements using the n2EDM apparatus. This method is also sensitive to the storage properties of the materials used to trap ultracold neutrons, specifically, whether collisions are specular or diffuse. We highlight the sensitivity of this new technique by comparing the two different storage chambers of the n2EDM experiment. We validate the extraction by comparing to an independent measurement for how this energy spectrum is polarized through a magnetic-filter, and finally, we calculate the neutron center-of-mass offset, an important systematic effect for measurements of the neutron electric dipole moment.
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Submitted 10 November, 2025;
originally announced November 2025.
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High-Density Ultracold Neutron Source for Low-Energy Particle Physics Experiments
Authors:
Skyler Degenkolb,
Estelle Chanel,
Simon Baudoin,
Marie-Hélène Baurand,
Douglas H. Beck,
Juliette Blé,
Eric Bourgeat-Lami,
Zeus Castillo,
Hanno Filter,
Maurits van der Grinten,
Tobias Jenke,
Michael Jentschel,
Victorien Joyet,
Eddy Lelièvre-Berna,
Husain Manasawala,
Thomas Neulinger,
Peter Fierlinger,
Kseniia Svirina,
Xavier Tonon,
Oliver Zimmer
Abstract:
SuperSUN, a new superthermal source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) at the Institut Laue-Langevin, exploits inelastic scattering of neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid $^4$He at temperatures below $0.6\,$K. For the first time, continuous operation with an intense broad-spectrum cold neutron beam is demonstrated over 60 days. We observe continuous UCN extraction rates of $21000\,$s$^{-1}$, and sto…
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SuperSUN, a new superthermal source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) at the Institut Laue-Langevin, exploits inelastic scattering of neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid $^4$He at temperatures below $0.6\,$K. For the first time, continuous operation with an intense broad-spectrum cold neutron beam is demonstrated over 60 days. We observe continuous UCN extraction rates of $21000\,$s$^{-1}$, and storage in the source with saturated $\textit{in-situ}$ density $273\,$cm$^{-3}$. The high stored density, low-energy UCN spectrum, and long storage times open new possibilities in fundamental and applied physics.
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Submitted 17 April, 2025;
originally announced April 2025.
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Achieving ultra-low and -uniform residual magnetic fields in a very large magnetically shielded room for fundamental physics experiments
Authors:
N. J. Ayres,
G. Ban,
G. Bison,
K. Bodek,
V. Bondar,
T. Bouillaud,
D. Bowles,
E. Chanel,
W. Chen,
P. -J. Chiu,
C. B. Crawford,
O. Naviliat-Cuncic,
C. B. Doorenbos,
S. Emmenegger,
M. Fertl,
A. Fratangelo,
W. C. Griffith,
Z. D. Grujic,
P. G. Harris,
K. Kirch,
V. Kletzl,
J. Krempel,
B. Lauss,
T. Lefort,
A. Lejuez
, et al. (25 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
High-precision searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM) require stable and uniform magnetic field environments. We present the recent achievements of degaussing and equilibrating the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We present the final degaussing configuration that will be used for n2EDM after numerous studies. The optim…
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High-precision searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM) require stable and uniform magnetic field environments. We present the recent achievements of degaussing and equilibrating the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We present the final degaussing configuration that will be used for n2EDM after numerous studies. The optimized procedure results in a residual magnetic field that has been reduced by a factor of two. The ultra-low field is achieved with the full magnetic-field-coil system, and a large vacuum vessel installed, both in the MSR. In the inner volume of ~1.4 m^3, the field is now more uniform and below 300 pT. In addition, the procedure is faster and dissipates less heat into the magnetic environment, which in turn, reduces its thermal relaxation time from 12 h down to ~1.5 h.
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Submitted 28 September, 2023;
originally announced September 2023.
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A large 'Active Magnetic Shield' for a high-precision experiment
Authors:
C. Abel,
N. J. Ayres,
G. Ban,
G. Bison,
K. Bodek,
V. Bondar,
T. Bouillaud,
E. Chanel,
J. Chen,
W. Chen,
P. -J. Chiu,
C. B. Crawford,
M. Daum,
C. B. Doorenbos,
S. Emmenegger,
L. Ferraris-Bouchez,
M. Fertl,
A. Fratangelo,
W. C. Griffith,
Z. D. Grujic,
P. Harris,
K. Kirch,
V. Kletzl,
P. A. Koss,
J. Krempel
, et al. (26 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present a novel Active Magnetic Shield (AMS), designed and implemented for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The experiment will perform a high-sensitivity search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron. Magnetic-field stability and control is of key importance for n2EDM. A large, cubic, 5m side length, magnetically shielded room (MSR) provides a passive, quasi-static s…
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We present a novel Active Magnetic Shield (AMS), designed and implemented for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute. The experiment will perform a high-sensitivity search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron. Magnetic-field stability and control is of key importance for n2EDM. A large, cubic, 5m side length, magnetically shielded room (MSR) provides a passive, quasi-static shielding-factor of about 10^5 for its inner sensitive volume. The AMS consists of a system of eight complex, feedback-controlled compensation coils constructed on an irregular grid spanned on a volume of less than 1000m^3 around the MSR. The AMS is designed to provide a stable and uniform magnetic-field environment around the MSR, while being reasonably compact. The system can compensate static and variable magnetic fields up to +-50muT (homogeneous components) and +-5muT (first-order gradients), suppressing them to a few muT in the sub-Hertz frequency range. The presented design concept and implementation of the AMS fulfills the requirements of the n2EDM experiment and can be useful for other applications, where magnetically silent environments are important and spatial constraints inhibit simpler geometrical solutions.
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Submitted 14 July, 2023;
originally announced July 2023.
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The `n2EDM MSR' -- a very large magnetically shielded room with an exceptional performance for fundamental physics measurements
Authors:
N. J. Ayres,
G. Ban,
G. Bison,
K. Bodek,
V. Bondar,
T. Bouillaud,
B. Clement,
E. Chanel,
P. -J. Chiu,
C. B. Crawford,
M. Daum,
C. B. Doorenbos,
S. Emmenegger,
A. Fratangelo,
M. Fertl,
W. C. Griffith,
Z. D. Grujic,
P. G. Harris,
K. Kirch,
J. Krempel,
B. Lauss,
T. Lefort,
O. Naviliat-Cuncic,
D. Pais,
F. M. Piegsa
, et al. (19 additional authors not shown)
Abstract:
We present the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute which features an interior cubic volume with each side of length 2.92m, thus providing an accessible space of 25m3. The MSR has 87 openings up to 220mm diameter to operate the experimental apparatus inside, and an intermediate space between the layers for sensitive signal processing electronics.…
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We present the magnetically shielded room (MSR) for the n2EDM experiment at the Paul Scherrer Institute which features an interior cubic volume with each side of length 2.92m, thus providing an accessible space of 25m3. The MSR has 87 openings up to 220mm diameter to operate the experimental apparatus inside, and an intermediate space between the layers for sensitive signal processing electronics. The characterization measurements show a remanent magnetic field in the central 1m3 below 100pT, and a field below 600pT in the entire inner volume, up to 4\,cm to the walls. The quasi-static shielding factor at 0.01\,Hz measured with a sinusoidal 2muT peak-to-peak signal is about 100,000 in all three spatial directions and rises fast with frequency to reach 10^8 above 1Hz.
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Submitted 21 June, 2022;
originally announced June 2022.