The Fundamental Neutron Physics Facilities at NIST

The program in fundamental neutron physics at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began nearly two decades ago. The Neutron Interactions and Dosimetry Group currently maintains four neutron beam lines dedicated to studies of fundamental neutron interactions. The neutrons are provided by the NIST Center for Neutron Research, a national user facility for studies that include condensed matter physics, materials science, nuclear chemistry, and biological science. The beam lines for fundamental physics experiments include a high-intensity polychromatic beam, a 0.496 nm monochromatic beam, a 0.89 nm monochromatic beam, and a neutron interferometer and optics facility. This paper discusses some of the parameters of the beam lines along with brief presentations of some of the experiments performed at the facilities.     

Facilities for Fundamental Neutron Physics Research at the NIST Cold Neutron Research Facility

The features of two fundamental neutron physics research stations at the NIST cold neutron research facility are described in some detail. A list of proposed initial experimental programs for these two stations is also given.     

LENS: A New Pulsed Neutron Source for Research and Education

A new pulsed neutron source is under construction at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF). Neutrons are produced via (p,n) reactions by a low-energy proton beam incident on a thin beryllium target. The source is tightly coupled to a cold methane moderator held at a temperature of 20 K or below. The resulting time-averaged cold neutron flux is expected to be comparable to that of the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The initial experimental suite will include instrumentation for small angle neutron scattering (SANS), moderator studies, radiography, and zero-field spin-echo SANS.     

Apparatus for Neutron Scattering Measurements on Sheared Fluids

We report on the construction of an apparatus to allow neutron scattering measurements on fluids undergoing shear. The apparatus has been used with the cold neutron small-angle-neutron-scattering (SANS) spectrometer at the NIST research reactor and will be made available to users as a permanent part of the NIST facility.     

Ultra-High Resolution Inelastic Neutron Scattering

Two types of ultra high energy resolution neutron scattering instruments, the backscattering spectrometer and the spin echo spectrometer, are described. Examples of the types of research which can be done with these instruments are given and plans for a cold neutron backscattering spectrometer which will be built in the NIST Cold Neutron Research Facility (CNRF) are discussed. It is hoped that this information will be of use to researchers considering neutron scattering experiments at NIST.     

Neutron Depth Profiling: Overview and Description of NIST Facilities

The Cold Neutron Depth Profiling (CNDP) instrument at the NIST Cold Neutron Research Facility (CNRF) is now operational. The neutron beam originates from a 16 L D₂O ice cold source and passes through a filter of 135 mm of single crystal sapphire. The neutron energy spectrum may be described by a 65 K Maxwellian distribution. The sample chamber configuration allows for remote controlled scanning of 150 × 150 mm sample areas including the varying of both sample and detector angle. The improved sensitivity over the current thermal depth profiling instrument has permitted the first nondestructive measurements of ¹⁷O profiles. This paper describes the CNDP instrument, illustrates the neutron depth profiling (NDP) technique with examples, and gives a separate bibliography of NDP publications.     

Macromolecular Crystallography and Structural Biology Databases at NIST

In the late 1970s, macromolecular crystallography at NIST began with collaboration between NIST and NIH to establish a single-crystal neutron diffractometer. This instrument was constructed and employed to solve a number of crystal structures: bovine ribonuclease A, bovine-ribonuclease-uridine vanadate complex, and porcine insulin. In the mid 1980s a Biomolecular Structure Group was created establishing NIST capabilities in biomolecular singe-crystal x-ray diffraction. The group worked on a variety of structural problems until joining the NIST/UMBI Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB) in 1987. Crystallographic studies at CARB were then focused on protein engineering efforts that included among others chymosin, subtilisin BPN'', interleukin 1β, and glutathione S-transferase. Recently, the structural biology efforts have centered on enzymes in the chorismate metabolic pathways involved in amino acid biosynthesis and in structural genomics that involves determining the structures of “hypothetical” proteins to aid in assigning function. In addition to crystallographic studies, structural biology database activities began with the formal establishment of the Biological Macro-molecule Crystallization Database in 1989. Later, in 1997, NIST in partnership with Rutgers and UCSD formed the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics that successfully acquired the Protein Data Bank. The NIST efforts in these activities have focused on data uniformity, establishing and maintaining the physical archive, and working with the NMR community.     

The Triple Axis and SPINS Spectrometers

In this paper are described the triple axis and spin polarized inelastic neutron scattering (SPINS) spectrometers which are installed at the NIST Cold Neutron Research Facility (CNRF). The general principle of operation of these two instruments is described in sufficient detail to allow the reader to make an informed decision as to their usefulness for his needs. However, it is the intention of the staff at the CNRF to provide the expert resources for their efficient use in any given situation. Thus, this work is not intended as a user manual but rather as a guide into the range of applicability of the two instruments.     

Detecting the Radiative Decay Mode of the Neutron

Beta decay of the neutron into a proton, electron, and electron antineutrino is occasionally accompanied by the emission of a photon. Despite decades of detailed experimental studies of neutron beta-decay, this rare branch of a fundamental weak decay has never been observed. An experiment to study the radiative beta-decay of the neutron is currently being developed for the NG-6 fundamental physics endstation at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The experiment will make use of the existing apparatus for the NIST proton-trap lifetime experiment, which can provide substantial background reduction by providing an electron-proton coincidence trigger. Tests and design of a detector for gamma-rays in the 10 keV to 200 keV range are under development. The need for a large solid-angle gamma-ray detector that can operate in a strong magnetic field and at low temperature has led us to consider scintillating crystals in conjunction with avalanche photodiodes. The motivation and experimental technique will be discussed.     

NIST Calibration of a Neutron Spectrometer ROSPEC

A neutron spectrometer was acquired for use in the measurement of National Institute of Standards and Technology neutron fields. The spectrometer included options for the measurement of low and high energy neutrons, for a total measurement range from 0.01 eV up to 17 MeV. The spectrometer was evaluated in calibration fields and was used to determine the neutron spectrum of an Americium-Beryllium neutron source. The calibration fields used included bare and moderated ²⁵²Cf, monoenergetic neutron fields of 2.5 MeV and 14 MeV, and a thermal-neutron beam. Using the calibration values determined in this exercise, the spectrometer gives a good approximation of the neutron spectrum, and excellent values for neutron fluence, for all NIST calibration fields. The spectrometer also measured an Americium-Beryllium neutron field in a NIST exposure facility and determined the field quite well. The spectrometer measured scattering effects in neutron spectra which previously could be determined only by calculation or integral measurements.     

Calibration of a pyroelectric detector at 10.6 microm with the National Institute of Standards and Technology high-accuracy cryogenic radiometer

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is establishing an infrared detector calibration facility to improve radiometric standards at infrared wavelengths. The absolute response of the cryogenic bolometer that serves as the transfer standard for this facility is being linked to the NIST high- accuracy cryogenic radiometer (HACR) at a few laser wavelengths. At the 10.6-microm CO(2) laser line, this link is being established through a pyroelectric detector that has been calibrated against the HACR. We describe the apparatus, methods, and uncertainties for the calibration of this pyroelectric detector.     

Materials Research With Neutrons at NIST

The NIST Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory works with industry, standards bodies, universities, and other government laboratories to improve the nation’s measurements and standards infrastructure for materials. An increasingly important component of this effort is carried out at the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), at present the most productive center of its kind in the United States. This article gives a brief historical account of the growth and activities of the Center with examples of its work in major materials research areas and describes the key role the Center can expect to play in future developments.     

Uncertainty and Traceability for the CEESI Iowa Natural Gas Facility

This paper analyzes the uncertainty of a secondary flow measurement facility that calibrates a significant fraction of United States and foreign flow meters used for custody transfer of natural gas. The facility, owned by the Colorado Experimental Engineering Station Incorporated (CEESI), is located in Iowa. This facility measures flow with nine turbine meter standards, each of which is traceable to the NIST primary flow standard. The flow capacity of this facility ranges from 0.7 actual m³/s to 10.7 actual m³/s at nominal pressures of 7174 kPa and at ambient temperatures. Over this flow range the relative expanded flow uncertainty varies from 0.28 % to 0.30 % (depending on flow).CEESI Iowa: natural gas facility, CEESI Iowa uncertainty analysis, CEESI traceability to NIST, correlation coefficient, critical flow venturi uncertainty, traceability, turbine meter uncertainty analysis     

On the Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime Using Ultracold Neutrons in a Vacuum Quadrupole Trap

We present a conceptual design for an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime (~886 s) with an accuracy of 10⁻⁴. The lifetime will be measured by observing the decay rate of a sample of ultracold neutrons (UCN) confined in vacuum in a magnetic trap. The UCN collaboration at Los Alamos National Laboratory has developed a prototype UCN source that is expected to produce a bottled UCN density of more than 100/cm³ [1]. The availability of such an intense source makes it possible to approach the measurement of the neutron lifetime in a new way. We argue below that it is possible to measure the neutron lifetime to 10⁻⁴ in a vacuum magnetic trap. The measurement involves no new technology beyond the expected UCN density. If even higher densities are available, the experiment can be made better and/or less expensive. We present the design and methodology for the measurement. The slow loss of neutrons that have stable orbits, but are not energetically trapped would produce a systematic uncertainty in the measurement. We discuss a new approach, chaotic cleaning, to the elimination of quasi-neutrons from the trap by breaking the rotational symmetry of the quadrupole trap. The neutron orbits take on a chaotic character and mode mixing causes the neutrons on the quasi-bound orbits to leave the trap.     

Neutron Lifetime Experiment Based on an Accordion-Like UCN Storage Volume Coated With “Low Temperature Fomblin”

A new type of per-fluorinated polymer, “Low Temperature Fomblin,” has been tested as a wall coating in an ultracold neutron (UCN) storage experiment using a gravitational storage system. The data show a UCN reflection loss coefficient η as low as ≈ 5 × 10⁻⁶ in the temperature range 105 K to 150 K. We plan to use this oil in a new type of neutron lifetime measurement, where a bellows system (“accordion”) enables to vary the trap size in a wide range while the total surface area and distribution of surface area over height remain constant. These unique characteristics, in combination with application of the scaling technique developed by W. Mampe et al. in 1989, ensure exact linearity for the extrapolation from inverse storage lifetimes to the inverse neutron lifetime. Linearity holds for any energy dependence of loss coefficient µ(E). Using the UCN source at the Institut Laue Langevin we expect to achieve a lifetime precision below ±1 s.     

A small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study of worm-like micelles under shear

The structure of a cationic worm-like cylindrical micelle was investigated by SANS (small-angle neutron scattering). Intensities from 0.1% by weight solutions in D₂O, at rest and under shear, were measured on the NIST Cold Neutron Research facility 30-m spectrometer in the wave vector range 0.03Q (nm¹)-2.0. Scattered intensity patterns from the solutions subjected to shears equal to or greater than 40s¹ showed pronounced anisotropy, but such anisotropy could not be detected below this apparent threshold shear. The threshold was characterized by a relaxation time since anisotropy was detected only after several minutes of shearing. In contrast, the anisotropy was apparent immediately the shear was applied at the higher shears. The data were analyzed based on the assumption that the micelles behave as rigid rods. Estimates of the radii and length under shear are given. Polydispersity in rod length is discussed, and we argue that it contributes significantly to the scattering patterns.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Synchrotron radiation-based irradiance calibration from 200 to 400 nm at the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility III

A new facility for measuring irradiance in the UV was commissioned recently at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The facility uses the calculable radiation from the Synchrotron Ultraviolet Radiation Facility as the primary standard. To measure the irradiance from a source under test, an integrating sphere spectrometer-detector system measures both the source under test and the synchrotron radiation sequentially, and the irradiance from the source under test can be determined. In particular, we discuss the calibration of deuterium lamps using this facility from 200 to 400 nm. This facility improves the current NIST UV irradiance scale to a relative measurement uncertainty of 1.2% (k=2).     

Measurement of the Neutron Lifetime Using a Gravitational Trap and a Low-Temperature Fomblin Coating

We present a new value for the neutron lifetime of 878.5 ± 0.7_stat. ± 0.3_syst. This result differs from the world average value by 6.5 standard deviations and by 5.6 standard deviations from the previous most precise result. However, this new value for the neutron lifetime together with a β-asymmetry in neutron decay, A₀, of −0.1189(7) is in a good agreement with the Standard Model.