Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime
Free neutron decay is a fundamental process in particle and nuclear physics. It is the prototype for nuclear beta decay and other semileptonic weak particle decays. Neutron decay played a key role in the formation of light elements in the early universe. The precise value of the neutron mean lifetim...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Atoms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-2004/6/4/70 |
| _version_ | 1819030410965811200 |
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| author | F. E. Wietfeldt |
| author_facet | F. E. Wietfeldt |
| author_sort | F. E. Wietfeldt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Free neutron decay is a fundamental process in particle and nuclear physics. It is the prototype for nuclear beta decay and other semileptonic weak particle decays. Neutron decay played a key role in the formation of light elements in the early universe. The precise value of the neutron mean lifetime, about 15 min, has been the subject of many experiments over the past 70 years. The two main experimental methods, the beam method and the ultracold neutron storage method, give average values of the neutron lifetime that currently differ by 8.7 s (4 standard deviations), a serious discrepancy. The physics of neutron decay, implications of the neutron lifetime, previous and recent experimental measurements, and prospects for the future are reviewed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:29:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0827590eae8049a3a1d4e85702c00481 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-2004 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T06:29:43Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atoms |
| spelling | doaj.art-0827590eae8049a3a1d4e85702c004812022-12-21T19:13:00ZengMDPI AGAtoms2218-20042018-12-01647010.3390/atoms6040070atoms6040070Measurements of the Neutron LifetimeF. E. Wietfeldt0Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USAFree neutron decay is a fundamental process in particle and nuclear physics. It is the prototype for nuclear beta decay and other semileptonic weak particle decays. Neutron decay played a key role in the formation of light elements in the early universe. The precise value of the neutron mean lifetime, about 15 min, has been the subject of many experiments over the past 70 years. The two main experimental methods, the beam method and the ultracold neutron storage method, give average values of the neutron lifetime that currently differ by 8.7 s (4 standard deviations), a serious discrepancy. The physics of neutron decay, implications of the neutron lifetime, previous and recent experimental measurements, and prospects for the future are reviewed.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-2004/6/4/70neutron decayneutron lifetimebeta decay |
| spellingShingle | F. E. Wietfeldt Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime Atoms neutron decay neutron lifetime beta decay |
| title | Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime |
| title_full | Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime |
| title_fullStr | Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime |
| title_short | Measurements of the Neutron Lifetime |
| title_sort | measurements of the neutron lifetime |
| topic | neutron decay neutron lifetime beta decay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-2004/6/4/70 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fewietfeldt measurementsoftheneutronlifetime |