Limits on the Fierz Interference term for the free neutron

ORAL

Abstract

We report on efforts to extract limits on the Fierz interference term for the free neutron, $b_n$, using ultracold neutrons (UCN). The UCNA experiment at LANSCE, designed to measure the neutron beta asymmetry, uses a $4\pi$ spectrometer to measure the electron energy dependence of neutron beta decay and the electron asymmetry in polarized beta decay. The $b_n$ parameter can skew the peak of the beta decay spectrum and modifies the energy dependence of the asymmetry. Thus using the observed energy dependence of the decay distribution and the asymmetry, we can place limits on $b_n$ and test consistency with the Standard Model in which $b_n$ is negligibly small.

Authors

  • Kevin Hickerson

    California Institute of Technology