Precision Neutron Decay Measurements

精确的中子衰变测量：中子是普通物质的组成部分之一。然而，当脱离稳定原子核的限制时，中子是不稳定的，并衰变为质子、电子和反中微子，平均寿命约为15分钟。这种衰变是由弱核力控制的，弱核力是自然界四种基本力之一。通过仔细测量发射粒子的能量和方向以及原始中子的自旋轴，可以揭示弱力基本性质的微妙细节。 我们将冷中子束（运动速度小于2000 m/s）通过各种仪器，这些仪器旨在精确测量中子衰变寿命和角相关。我们使用这些结果来测试粒子相互作用的标准模型，并寻找新物理的证据。一些研究生和本科生，以及博士后研究人员，参加这个研究计划。除了学习中子衰变科学，他们还接受了广泛的中子源物理学和研究方法学的教育，这为他们在学术界和工业界从事与中子科学相关的广泛职业做好了准备。

Precision Neutron Decay Measurements:The neutron is one of the building blocks of ordinary matter. However, when free from the confines of a stable atomic nucleus, the neutron is unstable and decays into a proton, electron, and antineutrino with an average lifetime of about 15 minutes. This decay is governed by the weak nuclear force, one of the four basic forces of nature. By carefully measuring the energies and directions of the emitted particles and the spin axis of the original neutron, subtle details of the fundamental nature of the weak force can be revealed. We pass beams of cold neutrons (moving less than 2000 m/s) through a variety of apparatus designed to make precise measurements of the neutron decay lifetime and angular correlations. We use these results to test the Standard Model of particle interactions and look for evidence of new physics. A number of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers, participate in this research program. In addition to learning the science of neutron decay, they are educated broadly in the physics and methodology of research at neutron sources, which prepares them for a wide range of careers related to neutron science in academia and industry