MRI Consortium: Development of a Magneto-Electrostatic Spectrometer for High Precision Measurements of Neutron Beta Decay

这个磁共振成像项目将建立一个大型的、新型的磁静电光谱仪，高度优化用于精确测量描述中子β衰变的四个关键参数：“a”，电子-中微子相关性，“B”，Fierz干扰项，以及“A/B/C”，β/中微子/质子不对称性。 该装置将安装在橡树岭国家实验室（ORNL）的空间中子源（SNS）的基本中子物理束线（FnPB）上。 拟议的谱仪将是一个首要的仪器，在美国和世界上的精度研究（在1000分之一的水平）的中子β衰变。 预计该实验将为解决中子衰变世界数据集长期存在的差异提供关键结果。 拟议中的设备，加上最先进的中子束，将使合作能够对某些过程设定严格的限制，这些过程将扩展标准模型，并在天体物理学中产生强烈的影响。 该光谱仪将由弗吉尼亚大学（UVa）、亚利桑那州立大学（ASU）和ORNL组成的联合体开发和建造，其中UVa是牵头机构。除了推进基础科学，拟议项目的影响主要是在高等教育方面。 UVa和ASU小组已经建立了培养博士的记录。以及在学术界、研究界和工业界担任生产性角色的博士后科学家。 一些本科生将获得宝贵的研究经验，工作在拟议的项目;四个已经深入参与设计阶段。 此外，PI的团体有一个包括代表性不足的少数民族成员的既定记录（最近有两个非洲裔美国人博士。学生，以及女性博士。学生、博士后和本科生）。 PI坚定地致力于吸引代表性不足的群体的成员，以帮助扩大该领域的人力资源基础。

This MRI project will build a large, novel magneto-electrostatic spectrometer, highly optimized for precision measurements of four key parameters describing neutron beta decay: "a", the electron-neutrino correlation, "b", the Fierz interference term, as well as "A/B/C", the beta/neutrino/proton asymmetries. The device will be mounted at the Fundamental Neutron Physics Beamline (FnPB) of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The proposed spectrometer will be a premier instrument for precision study (at the level of a part in ~1000) of neutron beta decay in the US and in the world. The experiment is expected to provide critical results toward resolving longstanding discrepancies in the neutron decay world data set. The proposed device, coupled with state of the art neutron beam, will enable the collaboration to set stringent limits on certain processes that would extend the Standard Model, with strong implications in astrophysics. The spectrometer will be developed and built by a consortium comprising University of Virginia (UVa), Arizona State University (ASU), and ORNL, with UVa as the lead institution.Besides advancing fundamental science, the proposed project's impact is mainly in higher education. The UVa and the ASU groups have established records of training Ph.D. and postdoctoral scientists who have proceeded to assume productive roles in academia, research, and industry. Several undergraduate students will gain valuable research experience working on the proposed project; four have already been deeply involved in the design phase. As well, the PIs' groups have an established record of including members of underrepresented minorities (in recent past there have been two African American Ph.D. students, as well as women Ph.D. students, postdocs, and undergraduate students). The PIs are strongly committed to attracting members of underrepresented groups, to help broaden the human resource base of the field.