Status of the BL2 beam measurement of the neutron lifetime

Neutron beta decay is the simplest example of nuclear beta decay, and a precise value of the neutron lifetime is important for consistency tests of the Standard Model and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis models. A new measurement of the neutron lifetime, utilizing the beam method, is underway at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research with a projected uncertainty of 1 s. An overview of the beam method will be presented. The status of the experiment, including preliminary measurements, beam characteristics, and technical improvements, will be discussed.