RUI: A Precision Measurement of the Electron-Antineutrino Correlation in Neutron Decay Using the aCORN Apparatus

电弱标准模型描述了宇宙中存在的四种基本力中的两种。通过进行实验，以越来越高的灵敏度探测可以用该模型描述的现象，人们希望能够出现差异，从而更全面地理解导致中子衰变或转变为质子、电子和反中微子的弱相互作用。在涉及中子衰变的测量中，中子的性质与其衰变产物之间的相关性是可以测量的。其中一种关联，被称为小“a”，涉及电子和反中微子从衰变区域发射的方向。已知其他中子衰变相关性在1%以内，但小“a”仅为4%。经过几年的规划和建设，aCORN（中子衰变中的“a”相关性）合作项目正在美国国家标准与技术研究院中子研究中心（NCNR）收集基础物理束线的数据。这笔拨款将提供支持，将允许德堡大学的本科生和首席研究员继续参与实验。

The electroweak standard model describes two of the four fundamental forces present in the universe. By conducting experiments that probe with increasing sensitivity phenomena that can be described with this model, it is hoped discrepancies will appear that will lead to a more complete understanding of the weak interaction which is responsible for the decay, or transformation, of the neutron into a proton, electron and antineutrino. Among the measurements that can be made involving neutron decay are correlations between the properties of the neutron and its decay products. One of these correlations, known as little "a", involves the direction of emission of the electron and antineutrino from the decay region. Other neutron decay correlations are known to within 1%, but little "a" is only known to 4%. After several years of planning and construction, the aCORN ("a" CORrelation in Neutron decay) collaboration is in the process of collecting data on the fundamental physics beamline at the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). This grant will provide support that will allow DePauw University undergraduate students and the Principal Investigator to continue participating in the experiment.