scholarly journals UCN, the ultracold neutron source -- neutrons for particle physics

Author(s):  
Bernhard Lauss ◽  
Bertrand Blau

Ultracold neutrons provide a unique tool for the study of neutron properties. An overview is given of the ultracold neutron (UCN) source at PSI, which produces the highest UCN intensities to fundamental physics experiments by exploiting the high intensity proton beam in combination with the high UCN yield in solid deuterium at a temperature of 5 K. We briefly list important fundamental physics results based on measurements with neutrons at PSI.

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (25) ◽  
pp. 1230027 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. TAJIMA ◽  
K. HOMMA

Over the last century the method of particle acceleration to high energies has become the prime approach to explore the fundamental nature of matter in laboratory. It appears that the latest search of the contemporary accelerator based on the colliders shows a sign of saturation (or at least a slow-down) in increasing its energy and other necessary parameters to extend this frontier. We suggest two pronged approach enabled by the recent progress in high intensity lasers. First we envision the laser-driven plasma accelerator may be able to extend the reach of the collider. For this approach to bear fruit, we need to develop the technology of high averaged power laser in addition to the high intensity. For this we mention that the latest research effort of ICAN is an encouraging sign. In addition to this, we now introduce the concept of the noncollider paradigm in exploring fundamental physics with high intensity (and large energy) lasers. One of the examples we mention is the laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) far beyond TeV without large luminosity. If we relax or do not require the large luminosity necessary for colliders, but solely in ultrahigh energy frontier, we are still capable of exploring such a fundamental issue. Given such a high energetic particle source and high-intensity laser fields simultaneously, we expect to be able to access new aspects on the matter and the vacuum structure from fundamental physical point of views. LWFA naturally exploits the nonlinear optical effects in the plasma when it becomes of relativistic intensity. Normally nonlinear optical effects are discussed based upon polarization susceptibility of matter to external fields. We suggest application of this concept even to the vacuum structure as a new kind of order parameter to discuss vacuum-originating phenomena at semimacroscopic scales. This viewpoint unifies the following observables with the unprecedented experimental environment we envision; the dispersion relation of photons at extremely short wavelengths in vacuum (a test of the Lorentz invariance), the dispersion relation of the vacuum under high-intensity laser fields (nonperturbative QED and possibly QCD effects), and wave-mixing processes possibly caused by exchanges of low-mass and weakly coupling fields relevant to cosmology with the coherent nature of high-flux photons (search for light dark matter and dark energy). These observables based on polarization susceptibility of vacuum would add novel insights to phenomena discovered in cosmology and particle physics where order parameters such as curvature and particle masses are conventionally discussed. In other words the introduction of high intensity laser and its methodology enriches the approach of fundamental and particle physics in entirely new dimensions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (07) ◽  
pp. C07034-C07034
Author(s):  
G. Chiarello ◽  
A. M. Baldini ◽  
G. Cavoto ◽  
F. Cei ◽  
M. Chiappini ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 45 (C3) ◽  
pp. C3-279-C3-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ageron ◽  
W. Mampe

Universe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Clementina Agodi ◽  
Antonio D. Russo ◽  
Luciano Calabretta ◽  
Grazia D’Agostino ◽  
Francesco Cappuzzello ◽  
...  

The search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay is currently a key topic in physics, due to its possible wide implications for nuclear physics, particle physics, and cosmology. The NUMEN project aims to provide experimental information on the nuclear matrix elements (NMEs) that are involved in the expression of 0νββ decay half-life by measuring the cross section of nuclear double-charge exchange (DCE) reactions. NUMEN has already demonstrated the feasibility of measuring these tiny cross sections for some nuclei of interest for the 0νββ using the superconducting cyclotron (CS) and the MAGNEX spectrometer at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS.) Catania, Italy. However, since the DCE cross sections are very small and need to be measured with high sensitivity, the systematic exploration of all nuclei of interest requires major upgrade of the facility. R&D for technological tools has been completed. The realization of new radiation-tolerant detectors capable of sustaining high rates while preserving the requested resolution and sensitivity is underway, as well as the upgrade of the CS to deliver beams of higher intensity. Strategies to carry out DCE cross-section measurements with high-intensity beams were developed in order to achieve the challenging sensitivity requested to provide experimental constraints to 0νββ NMEs.


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