High-Density Ultracold Neutron Source for Low-Energy Particle Physics Experiments
Published: Apr 17, 2025
Last Updated: Apr 17, 2025
Authors:Skyler Degenkolb, Estelle Chanel, Simon Baudoin, Marie-Hélène Baurand, Douglas H. Beck, Juliette Blé, Eric Bourgeat-Lami, Zeus Castillo, Hanno Filter, Maurits van der Grinten, Tobias Jenke, Michael Jentschel, Victorien Joyet, Eddy Lelièvre-Berna, Husain Manasawala, Thomas Neulinger, Peter Fierlinger, Kseniia Svirina, Xavier Tonon, Oliver Zimmer
Abstract
SuperSUN, a new superthermal source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) at the Institut Laue-Langevin, exploits inelastic scattering of neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid $^4$He at temperatures below $0.6\,$K. For the first time, continuous operation with an intense broad-spectrum cold neutron beam is demonstrated over 60 days. We observe continuous UCN extraction rates of $21000\,$s$^{-1}$, and storage in the source with saturated $\textit{in-situ}$ density $273\,$cm$^{-3}$. The high stored density, low-energy UCN spectrum, and long storage times open new possibilities in fundamental and applied physics.