Proton spectroscopy with PERC for precision measurements of the angular correlation coefficient alpha in neutron beta-decay

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Werner Heil
• Subject Area: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Relativity, Fields ; Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: from 2010 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 167716490

In this project the structure and nature of weak interaction and possible extensions of the Standard Model of elementary particle physics are investigated, addressed by precise studies of neutron beta decay. These studies require a very brilliant source of decay products, i.e., a large active decay volume inside a neutron guide. Within priority area B of the new Priority Program 1491, a new facility, called PERC, will provide a well-defined beam of decay electrons and protons, improving the count rates for adjacent neutron decay correlation experiments by two orders of magnitude. The first milestone for this project is the design and construction of the instrument PERC with emphasis on its use as a spectrometer for decay protons. This selected decay channel of PERC will be fed into an adapted and upgraded spectrometer which is based on the aSPECT proton retardation spectrometer. In the second funding period, angular correlation experiments will be performed with PERC as pre- and aSPECT as post-spectrometer for protons.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1491: Precision Experiments in Particle- and Astrophysics with Cold and Ultracold Neutrons