High-sensitivity measurement of He 3 - He 4 isotopic ratios for ultracold neutron experiments

H. P. Mumm, M. G. Huber, W. Bauder, N. Abrams, C. M. Deibel, C. R. Huffer, P. R. Huffman, K. W. Schelhammer, R. Janssens, C. L. Jiang, R. H. Scott, R. C. Pardo, K. E. Rehm, R. Vondrasek, C. M. Swank, C. M. O'Shaughnessy, M. Paul, L. Yang

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Abstract

Research efforts ranging from studies of solid helium to searches for a neutron electric dipole moment require isotopically purified helium with a ratio of He3 to He4 at levels below that which can be measured using traditional mass spectroscopy techniques. We demonstrate an approach to such a measurement using accelerator mass spectroscopy, reaching the 10-14 level of sensitivity, several orders of magnitude more sensitive than other techniques. Measurements of He3/He4 in samples relevant to the measurement of the neutron lifetime indicate the need for substantial corrections. We also argue that there is a clear path forward to sensitivity increases of at least another order of magnitude.

Original languageEnglish
Article number065502
JournalPhysical Review C
Volume93
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Physical Society.

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