Ultra-Cold Neutrons [Hardcover]

Ultra-Cold Neutrons is a complete, self-contained introduction and review of the field of ultra-cold neutron (UCN) physics. Over the last two decades, developments in UCN technology include the storage of UCN in material and magnetic bottles for time periods limited only by the beta decay rate of the free neutron. This capability has opened up the possibility of a wide range of applications in the fields of both fundamental and condensed state physics. The book explores some of these applications, such as the search for the electric dipole moment of the neutron that constitutes the most sensitive test of time reversal invariance yet devised.

The book is suitable as an introduction to the field for research students, as a useful compendium of results and techniques for researchers, and is of general interest to nonspecialists in other areas of physics such as neutron, atomic, and fundamental physics and neutron scattering.Preface
Research with ultra-cold neutrons

INTERACTION OF UCN WITH MATTER
Interactions of slow neutrons
Scattering from a single nucleus
Neutron scattering from a collection of nuclei
Reflection of UCN from surfaces
Quantum mechanics of a particle in a box with absorbing walls

PRODUCTION OF UCN
Introduction
Production of UCN
Working sources of UCN
UCN sources under development
Superthermal sources of UCN

UCN GAS
Introduction
The properties of UCN gas
Storage of UCN
Transportation of UCN

UCN STORAGE MEASUREMENTS
Introduction
Early neutron storage measurements
The search for the cause of the anomalously large neutron loss rates Improvements in UCN storage bottles and the search for low neutron loss wall materials
Present status of UCN storage measurements and techniques

UCN SPECTROMETERS, MICROSCOPES AND MONOCHROMATORS
Introduction
UCN spectrometers l3Ë