On the laser method of production of ultracold neutrons

The laser method of ultracold neutron (UCN) production consists in slowing down thermal neutrons through their repeated elastic collisions with nuclei pre-cooled to a temperature of {approx}1 {mu}K by known methods of laser manipulation of neutral atoms, i.e., this method actually reproduces the kno...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quantum electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2011-07, Vol.41 (7), p.659-662, Article 659
Main Author: Rivlin, Lev A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
BARYONS
COLD NEUTRONS
COLLISIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INDUSTRY
LASERS
LIFETIME
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
SLOWING-DOWN
SPECTRA
THERMAL NEUTRONS
ULTRACOLD NEUTRONS
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The laser method of ultracold neutron (UCN) production consists in slowing down thermal neutrons through their repeated elastic collisions with nuclei pre-cooled to a temperature of {approx}1 {mu}K by known methods of laser manipulation of neutral atoms, i.e., this method actually reproduces the known nuclear industry technology in the subthermal range. The feasibility condition for this UCN production process is its short duration, compared with the neutron lifetime. Estimates for a simplified model of the process indicate the possibility of producing the fluxes of UCNs at a concentration several orders of magnitude higher than that obtained with the present method of UCN extraction from the low-energy wing of the Maxwellian energy distribution. Necessary adjustments of the model used for estimates as well as possible applications of the laser method of UCN production are indicated. (laser applications)
ISSN:1063-7818
1468-4799
DOI:10.1070/QE2011v041n07ABEH014514