Development of a Neutron Polarizer Using Compressed, Optically Pumped Helium Gas

研制用于低能中子的中子偏振器，用于基本对称性试验，包括时间反转不变性试验和弱相互作用耦合常数试验。后者将用于测试描述不同夸克-轻子扇区之间弱跃迁的矩阵的统一性，这反过来又测试了夸克和轻子三代的基本假设。偏振器将基于中子与光泵极化氦- 3的相互作用。实验将在国家标准与技术研究院的研究堆中进行。这一领域的研究将促进我们对电弱相互作用和基本中子物理的理解，这两者都是当代核物理学中高度优先的活动。本项目主要用于开发、建设和利用先进的主要设备，以及研究生、本科生和博士后的教育

9501312 Snow A neutron polarizer for low energy neutrons will be developed for use in fundamental symmetry tests, including tests of time reversal invariance and weak interaction coupling constants. The latter will be used to test the unitarity of the matrix describing weak transitions between the different quark- lepton sectors, which in turn tests the fundamental assumption of three generations of quarks and leptons. The polarizer will be based on neutron interactions with optically-pumped polarized helium-three. Experiments will be conducted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology research reactor. Research in this area will advance our understanding of the electroweak interaction and fundamental neutron physics, both high priority activities in contemporary nuclear physics. This project represents development, construction, and utilization of major state-of-the-art equipment and the education of graduate and undergraduate students and postdocs.***