Quasielastic scattering in the interaction of ultracold neutrons with a liquid wall and application in a reanalysis of the Mambo I neutron-lifetime experiment

Authors

Albert Steyerl, University of Rhode IslandFollow
J. M. Pendlebury
Charles Kaufman, University of Rhode IslandFollow
Surendra S. Malik, University of Rhode IslandFollow
A. M. Desai, University of Rhode Island

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

6-2012

Abstract

We develop a theory of ultracold and very cold neutron scattering on viscoelastic surface waves up to second-order perturbation theory. The results are applied to reanalyze the 1989 neutron-lifetime experiment using ultracold neutron storage in a Fomblin-coated vessel by Mampe et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 63, 593 (1989)]. Inclusion of this theory of the quasielastic scattering process in the data analysis shifts the neutron lifetime value from 887.6 ± 3 to 882.5 ± 2.1 s.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Steyerl, A., Pendlebury, J. M., Kaufman, C., Malik, S. S., & Desai, A. M. (2012). Quasielastic scattering in the interaction of ultracold neutrons with a liquid wall and application in a reanalysis of the Mambo I neutron-lifetime experiment. Physical Review C, 85, 065503. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.85.065503

Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.85.065503

Publisher Statement

Copyright 2012 American Physical Society.