Search

We report on a precise measurement of the electron-antineutrino angular correlation ($a$ coefficient) in free neutron beta-decay from the $a$SPECT experiment. The $a$ coefficient is inferred from the recoil energy spectrum of the protons which are detected in 4$\pi$ by the $a$SPECT spectrometer using magnetic adiabatic collimation with an electrostatic filter. Data are presented from a 100 days run at the Institut Laue Langevin in 2013. The sources of systematic errors are considered and included in the final result. We obtain $a = -0.10430(84)$ which is the most precise measurement of the neutron $a$ coefficient to date. From this, the ratio of axial-vector to vector coupling constants is derived giving $|\lambda| = 1.2677(28)$.

We present the result of an experiment to measure the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron at the Paul Scherrer Institute using Ramsey’s method of separated oscillating magnetic fields with ultracold neutrons. Our measurement stands in the long history of EDM experiments probing physics violating time-reversal invariance. The salient features of this experiment were the use of a 199Hg comagnetometer and an array of optically pumped cesium vapor magnetometers to cancel and correct for magnetic-field changes. The statistical analysis was performed on blinded datasets by two separate groups, while the estimation of systematic effects profited from an unprecedented knowledge of the magnetic field. The measured value of the neutron EDM is dn=(0.0±1.1stat±0.2sys)×10−26 e.cm., Physical Review Letters, 124 (8), ISSN:0031-9007, ISSN:1079-7114

We report on a measurement of the $CP$-violating permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutral $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ atom. Our experimental approach is based on the detection of the free precession of co-located nuclear spin-polarized $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ samples. The EDM measurement sensitivity benefits strongly from long spin coherence times of several hours achieved in diluted gases and homogeneous weak magnetic fields of about 400 nT. A finite EDM is indicated by a change in the precession frequency, as an electric field is periodically reversed with respect to the magnetic guiding field. Our result $(\ensuremath{-}4.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}28}e\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$, is consistent with zero and is used to place a new upper limit on the $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ EDM: $|{d}_{\text{Xe}}|l1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}27}e\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{cm}$ (95% C.L.). We also discuss the implications of this result for various $CP$-violating observables as they relate to theories of physics beyond the standard model.

We present the new spectrometer for the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) search at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), called n2EDM. The setup is at room temperature in vacuum using ultracold neutrons. n2EDM features a large UCN double storage chamber design with neutron transport adapted to the PSI UCN source. The design builds on experience gained from the previous apparatus operated at PSI until 2017. An order of magnitude increase in sensitivity is calculated for the new baseline setup based on scalable results from the previous apparatus, and the UCN source performance achieved in 2016., Submitted as a web of conference proceedings paper

We demonstrate the use of a hybrid 3He/87 magnetometer to measure absolute magnetic fields in the pT range. The measurements were undertaken by probing time-dependent 3He magnetisation using 87Rb zero-field magnetometers. Measurements were taken to demonstrate the use of the magnetometer in cancelling residual fields within a magnetic shield. It was shown that the absolute field could be reduced to the 10 pT level by using field readings from the magnetometer. Furthermore, the hybrid magnetometer was shown to be applicable for the reduction of gradient fields by optimising the effective 3He T2 time. This procedure represents a convenient and consistent way to provide a near zero magnetic field environment which can be potentially used as a base for generating desired magnetic field configurations for use in precision measurements., The European Physical Journal D, 73 (7), ISSN:1434-6060, ISSN:1434-6079

We report on the first preliminary result of our 129Xe EDM measurement performed by the MIXed collaboration. The aim of this report is to demonstrate the feasibility of a new method to set limits on nuclear EDMs by investigating the EDM of the diamagnetic 129Xe atoms. In our setup, hyperpolarized 3He serves as a comagnetometer needed to suppress magnetic field fluctuations. The free induction decay of the two polarized spin species is directly measured by low noise DC SQUIDs, and the weighted phase difference extracted from these measurements is used to determine a preliminary upper limit on the 129Xe EDM.

International audience; In recent years, NMR with hyperpolarized (HP) xenon inside functionalized host structures (e.g. cryptophanes) have become a potential candidate for the direct observation of metabolic processes (i.e. molecular imaging). A critical issue for real applications is the dissolution of the HP-gas in the liquid which contains the host. In this work, we present recent developments for an improved and controlled dissolution of HP-Xe in liquids using hollow fiber membranes and different compressor systems. The designed apparatus consists of a compressor and a membrane unit. The compressor provides HP-129 Xe continuously at small adjustable pressures and in a polarization-preserving way. The membrane unit enables a molecular solution of the HP-gas in aqueous liquids, avoiding the formation of bubbles or even foams. Two different types of compressors were tested in terms of function and useful materials. Special emphasis was put on a systematic reduction of transfer losses in the gas and liquid phase. In order to optimize the system parameters, several physical models were developed to describe the transport and the losses of nuclear polarization. Finally, the successful implementation was demonstrated in several experiments. HP-Xe was dissolved in an aqueous cryptophane-A-(OCH 2 COOH) 6 solution, and stable Xe signals could be measured over 35 min, only limited by the size of the gas reservoir. Such long and stable Version 6 21.10.2019 BN experimental conditions enabled the study of chemical exchange of xenon between cryptophane and water environments even for a time-consuming 2D NMR-experiment. The good signal stability over the measurement time allowed an exact determination of the residence time of the Xe-atom inside the cryptophane, resulting in an average residence time of 42.9 ± 3.3 ms.

International audience; We describe a method, referred to as PAMP (polarization of atoms in a magnetized plasma), that allowshyperpolarization of 3He nuclear spins at high magnetic field solely by excitation of a rf gas discharge.A magnetized plasma is obtained when the mean free path of the free electrons is much larger than theirgyration radius in the rf gas discharge. Investigations of PAMP are carried out in the 1–15-mbar pressure rangewith rf excitation around 100 MHz. Quantitative NMR measurements at 4.7 T and room temperature showthat, for different cell sizes and gas densities, 3He nuclear polarizations in the 1 to 9% range are achieved(i.e., larger than the Boltzmann equilibrium spin polarization of the free electrons). A description involvingalignment-to-orientation conversion in the excited 23P state is proposed. The PAMP method appears as a veryattractive alternative to established laser polarization techniques (spin exchange or metastability exchange opticalpumping). Application to 3He nuclear magnetometry with a relative precision of 10^(−12) is demonstrated.

International audience; We report on a laser based $^{199}$Hg co-magnetometer deployed in an experiment searching for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron. We demonstrate a more than five times increased signal to-noise-ratio in a direct comparison measurement with its $^{204}$Hg discharge bulb-based predecessor. An improved data model for the extraction of important system parameters such as the degrees of absorption and polarization is derived. Laser- and lamp-based data-sets can be consistently described by the improved model which permits to compare measurements using the two different light sources and to explain the increase in magnetometer performance. The laser-based magnetometer satisfies the magnetic field sensitivity requirements for the next generation nEDM experiments.

The spin-lattice relaxation time T1 of hyperpolarized (HP)-(129)Xe was improved at typical storage conditions (i.e. low and homogeneous magnetic fields). Very long wall relaxation times T(1)(wall) of about 18 h were observed in uncoated, spherical GE180 glass cells of ∅=10 cm which were free of rubidium and not permanently sealed but attached to a standard glass stopcock. An "aging" process of the wall relaxation was identified by repeating measurements on the same cell. This effect could be easily removed by repeating the initial cleaning procedure. In this way, a constant wall relaxation was ensured. The Xe nuclear spin-relaxation rate 1/T1(Xe-Xe) due to van der Waals molecules was investigated too, by admixing three different buffer gases (N(2), SF(6) and CO(2)). Especially CO(2) exhibited an unexpected high efficiency (r) in shortening the lifetime of the Xe-Xe dimers and hence prolonging the total T1 relaxation even further. These measurements also yielded an improved accuracy for the van der Waals relaxation for pure Xe (with 85% (129)Xe) of T(1)(Xe-Xe)=(4.6±0.1)h. Repeating the measurements with HP (129)Xe in natural abundance in mixtures with SF6, a strong dependence of T(1)(Xe-Xe) and r on the isotopic enrichment was observed, uncovering a shorter T(1)(Xe-Xe) relaxation for the (129)Xe in natural composition as compared to the 85% isotopically enriched gas.

We describe a method for recording the Rabi nutation of nuclear spin polarized 3He by optically pumped cesium magnetometers. The measurement is performed by detecting the time-dependent magnetic field produced by the 3He magnetization. The observed signals are compared to theoretical models and the results are used to precisely trace the evolution of the magnetization. This procedure represents a convenient way to control and measure the Rabi flip angle and the degree of spin polarization in experiments using 3He magnetometers. The method requires only very coarse knowledge of the applied magnetic field’s magnitude.

A permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) implies breakdown of P (parity) and T (time reversal) symmetries. Provided CPT holds, this implies CP violation. Observation of an EDM at achievable experimental sensitivity would provide unambiguous evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model and limits towards matter-antimatter asymmetry. Our experiment uses differential spin precession of 3He and 129Xe, co-occupying the same volume, to measure the EDM of xenon. We have reached in a first test already sensitivity in the range 10-28 ecm. I will present the current status of the experiment and challenges like long term (weeks) tight control over magnetic and electric fields.

Ultracold neutrons (UCNs) are key for precision studies of fundamental parameters of the neutron and in searches for new CP violating processes or exotic interactions beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. The most prominent example is the search for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron (nEDM). We have performed an experimental comparison of the leading UCN sources currently operating. We have used a 'standard' UCN storage bottle with a volume of 32 liters, comparable in size to nEDM experiments, which allows us to compare the UCN density available at a given beam port., 20 pages, 30 Figures

The neutron gyromagnetic ratio has been measured relative to that of the 199Hg atom with an uncertainty of 0.8 ppm. We employed an apparatus where ultracold neutrons and mercury atoms are stored in the same volume and report the result γn/γHg=3.8424574(30)., Physics Letters B, 739, ISSN:0370-2693, ISSN:0031-9163, ISSN:1873-2445

Purpose MRI of lung airspaces using gases with MR-active nuclei (3He, 129Xe, and 19F) is an important area of research in pulmonary imaging. The volume-controlled administration of gas mixtures is important for obtaining quantitative information from MR images. State-of-the-art gas administration using plastic bags (PBs) does not allow for a precise determination of both the volume and timing of a 3He bolus. Methods A novel application unit (AU) was built according to the requirements of the German medical devices law. Integrated spirometers enable the monitoring of the inhaled gas flow. The device is particularly suited for hyperpolarized (HP) gases (e.g., storage and administration with minimal HP losses). The setup was tested in a clinical trial (n = 10 healthy volunteers) according to the German medicinal products law using static and dynamic ventilation HP-3He MRI. Results The required specifications for the AU were successfully realized. Compared to PB-administration, better reproducibility of gas intrapulmonary distribution was observed when using the AU for both static and dynamic ventilation imaging. Conclusion The new AU meets the special requirements for HP gases, which are storage and administration with minimal losses. Our data suggest that gas AU-administration is superior to manual modes for determining the key parameters of dynamic ventilation measurements. Magn Reson Med 74:884–893, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Polarization of 3He gas by means of optical pumping is well known since the early 1960s with first applications in fundamental physics. Some thirty years later it was discovered, that one can use hyperpolarized 3He as contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging of the lung. The wide interest in this new method made it necessary to find ways of polarizing 3He in large quantities with high polarization degrees. A high performance polarizing facility has been developed at the University of Mainz, designed for centralized production of hyperpolarized 3He gas. We present the Mainz concept as well as some examples of numerous applications of spin polarized 3He in fundamental research and medical applications.

The first measurement of the helicity dependence of the total inclusive 3He photo-absorption cross section and of the partial cross sections for several reaction channels was carried out at MAMI (Mainz) in the photon energy range between 150 and 500 MeV. The experiment used the large acceptance Crystal Ball spectrometer, complemented by charged particle and vertex detectors, a circularly polarised tagged photon beam and a longitudinally polarised high-pressure 3He gas target. The results obtained give information on the GDH integral on 3He and on the neutron and allow an investigation of the modifications of nucleon properties inside 3He.

We discuss the design and performance of a very sensitive low-field magnetometer based on the detection of free spin precession of gaseous, nuclear polarized 3He or 129Xe samples with a SQUID as magnetic flux detector. Characteristic spin precession times $T_2^\ast$ of up to 115 h were measured in low magnetic fields (about 1 μT) and in the regime of motional narrowing. With the detection of the free precession of co-located 3He/129Xe nuclear spins (clock comparison), the device can be used as ultra-sensitive probe for non-magnetic spin interactions, since the magnetic dipole interaction (Zeeman-term) drops out in the weighted frequency difference, i.e., Δω = ω He − γ He /γ Xe ·ω Xe . We report on searches for Lorentz violating signatures by monitoring the Larmor frequencies of co-located 3He/129Xe spin samples as the laboratory reference frame rotates with respect to distant stars (sidereal modulation).

We performed a search for a Lorentz-invariance- and CPT-violating coupling of the $^3$He and $^{129}$Xe nuclear spins to posited background fields. Our experimental approach is to measure the free precession of nuclear spin polarized $^3$He and $^{129}$Xe atoms using SQUID detectors. As the laboratory reference frame rotates with respect to distant stars, we look for a sidereal modulation of the Larmor frequencies of the co-located spin samples. As a result we obtain an upper limit on the equatorial component of the background field $\tilde{b}^n_{\bot}< 8.4 \cdot 10^{-34}$ GeV (68\% C.L.). Furthermore, this technique was modified to search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of $^{129}$Xe., Presented at the Seventh Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, June 20-24, 2016

Recently the spin–lattice relaxation time T 1 of hyperpolarized (HP)- 129 Xe was significantly improved by using uncoated and Rb-free storage vessels of GE180 glass. For these cells, a simple procedure was established to obtain reproducible wall relaxation times of about 18 h. Then the limiting relaxation mechanism in pure Xe is due to the coupling between the nuclear spins and the angular momentum of the Xe–Xe van-der-Waals-molecules. This mechanism can be significantly reduced by using different buffer gases of which CO 2 was discovered to be the most efficient so far. From these values, it was estimated that for a 1:1 mixture of HP-Xe with CO 2 a longitudinal relaxation time of about 7 h can be expected, sufficient to transport HP-Xe from a production to a remote application site. This prediction was verified for such a mixture at a total pressure of about 1 bar in a 10 cm glass cell showing a storage time of T 1 ≈ 9 h (for T 1 wall = ( 34 ± 9 ) h) which was transported inside a magnetic box over a distance of about 200 km by car.

High magnetic fields (> 1 T) are measured by NMR magnetometers with un-rivaled precision if the precessing spin sample provides long coherence times. The longest coherence times are found in diluted ${}^{3}$He samples, which can be hyperpolarized for sufficient signal strength. In order to have minimal influence on the homogeneity and value of the measured magnetic field the optimal container for the ${}^{3}$He should be a perfect sphere. A fused silica sphere with an inner diameter of 8 mm and an outer diameter of 12 mm was made from two hemispheres by diffusion bonding leaving only a small hole for cleaning and evacuation. This hole was closed in vacuum by a CO${}_{2}$ laser and the inner volume was filled with a few mbars of ${}^3$He via wall permeation. NMR-measurements on such a sample had coherence times of 5 min. While the hemispheres were produced with < 1 $\mu$m deviation from sphericity, the bonding left a step of ca. 50 $\mu$m at maximum. The influence of such a mismatch, its orientation and materials in the direct vicinity of the sample are analyzed by FEM-simulations and discussed in view of coherence times and absolute fields.

We report on precise measurements of magnetic field gradients extracted from transverse relaxation rates of precessing spin samples. The experimental approach is based on the free precession of gaseous, nuclear spin polarized 3He and 129Xe atoms in a spherical cell inside a magnetic guiding field of about 400 nT using LT C SQUIDs as low-noise magnetic flux detectors. The transverse relaxation rates of both spin species are simultaneously monitored as magnetic field gradients are varied. For transverse relaxation times reaching 100 h, the residual longitudinal field gradient across the spin sample could be deduced to be |∇ B z | = (5.6 ± 0.2) pT/cm. The method takes advantage of the high signal-to-noise ratio with which the decaying spin precession signal can be monitored that finally leads to the exceptional accuracy to determine magnetic field gradients at the sub pT/cm scale.

We have developed the means to recycle 3He exhaled by patients after imaging the lungs using magnetic resonance of hyperpolarized 3He. The exhaled gas is collected in a helium leak proof bag and further compressed into a steel bottle. The collected gas contains about 1–2% of 3He, depending on the amount administered and the number of breaths collected to wash out the 3He gas from the lungs. 3He is separated from the exhaled air using zeolite molecular sieve adsorbent at 77 K followed by a cold head at 8 K. Residual gaseous impurities are finally absorbed by a commercial nonevaporative getter. The recycled 3He gas features high purity, which is required for repolarization by metastability exchange optical pumping. At present, we achieve a collection efficiency of 80–84% for exhaled gas from healthy volunteers and cryogenic separation efficiency of 95%. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

International audience; We describe the status of the new measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) to be performed at the strong source of ultra-cold neutrons at the Paul Scherrer Institut. The experimental technique is based on Ramsey's method of separated oscillatory fields, applied to UCN stored in vacuum in a chamber at room temperature. Our approach is performed in three phases: in phase one, new components have been developed and tested at the Institut Laue-Langevin. Phase two is being performed at PSI, where the apparatus was moved in 2009. Here, together with the optimization of the magnetic environment, the prospective UCN density of not, vert, similar 100 cm-3 should enable an improvement of the currently best limit by a factor of five within two years of data taking. In the third phase, a new spectrometer will then gain another order of magnitude in sensitivity. The improvements will be mainly due to (1) much higher UCN intensity, (2) improved magnetometry and magnetic field control, and (3) a double chamber configuration with opposite electric field directions.

We present novel types of permanently magnetized as well as current powered boxes built from soft-ferromagnetic materials. They provide shielded magnetic fields which are homogeneous within a large fraction of the enclosed volume, thus minimizing size, weight, and costs. For the permanently magnetized solutions, homogenization is achieved either by an optimized distribution of the permanent field sources or by jacketing the field with a soft-ferromagnetic cylindrical shell which is magnetized in parallel to the enclosed field. The latter principle may be applied up to fields of about 0.1 T. With fields of about 1 mT, such boxes are being used for shipping spin-polarized 3 He worldwide for MRI purposes. For current powered boxes, we present concepts and realizations of uniaxial and tri-axial shielded magnetic fields which are homogeneous on the level of 10 −4 within the entire shielded volume. This is achieved by inserting tightly fitting solenoids into a box from soft-magnetic material. The flexible tri-axial solution suits in particular laboratory applications, e.g. for establishing a spin quantization axis.

International audience; The effort towards a new measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) at the Paul Scherrer Institut's (PSI) new high intensity source of ultracold neutrons (UCN) is described. The experimental technique relies on Ramsey's method of separated oscillatory fields, using UCN in vacuum with the apparatus at ambient temperature. In the first phase, R&D towards the upgrade of the RAL/Sussex/ILL apparatus is being performed at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL). In the second phase the apparatus, moved from ILL to PSI, will allow an improvement in experimental sensitivity by a factor of 5. In the third phase, a new spectrometer should gain another order of magnitude in sensitivity. The improvements will be mainly due to (1) much higher UCN intensity, (2) improved magnetometry and magnetic field control, and (3) a double chamber configuration with opposite electric field directions.

Polarized He 3 from metastability exchange optical pumping (MEOP) is used as an effective polarized neutron target for electron scattering experiments at the MAinz MIcrotron (MAMI). With the present setup an initial polarization of up to 72% has been obtained at the experimental area. A novel calibration technique will be presented which allows the determination of the absolute polarization within a relative uncertainty of 3%.

The neutron decay spectrometera SPECT has been built to perform a precise measurement of the proton spectrum shape in the decay of free neutrons. Such a measurement allows a determination of the neutrino electron angular-correlation coefficienta . The present best experiments have an uncertainty of Δa/a = 5% and since the seventies there is no substantial improvement. Witha SPECT, we aim for an uncertainty which is lower by more than an order of magnitude, thus enabling us to perform several precise tests of the Standard Model. In our first beam time at the particle physics beam MEPHISTO at the Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, we studied the properties of the spectrometer. The most serious problem turned out to be the situation- and time-dependent behavior of the background. From the data sets from this beam time in which a background problem was not obvious, we could extract a value ofa = - 0.1151±0.0040stat , but we could not quantify the background uncertainty. We show ways to deal with the background and other problems for future beam times.

The production rates of ultracold neutrons (UCN) with a solid deuterium converter have been measured at the pulsed reactor TRIGA Mainz. Exposed to a thermal neutron fluence of $\ensuremath \sim 1\cdot 10^{13}$ n·cm^-2·pulse^-1, the number of detected very cold and ultracold neutrons ranges up to 200 000 at 7mol of solid deuterium (sD2) in combination with a pre-moderator (mesitylene). About 50% of the measured neutrons can be assigned to UCN with energies E of $\ensuremath V_{\rm F}({\rm sD}_2)\leq E \leq V_{\rm F}{\rm (guide)}$ where V F(sD 2) = 105 neV and V F(guide) = 190 neV are the Fermi potentials of the sD2 converter and our stainless steel neutron guides, respectively. Thermal cycling of solid deuterium, which was frozen out from the gas phase, considerably improved the UCN yield, in particular at higher amounts of sD2.

A number of valved quartz glass 3He spin filter cells have been repeatedly exposed to various external magnetic fields in order to determine the influence of induced wall magnetization on the relaxation time in the cells. The procedures of magnetizing and degaussing of cells are described. A comparison of T1 measurements performed in the same cell by different methods attest the good reliability of the measurements as well as the time stability of T1 in Cs-coated quartz glass cells. No orientation dependence of the relaxation in fields of 8 G was observed. A strong dependence of T1 on the strengths of external magnetic fields, applied perpendicular to the direction of the guide field used during the measurements, was observed at low and moderate fields. T1 decreases rapidly by increasing the field strength up to values of about 1 kG both in Cs-coated and bare-wall cells. Further increase in the field to 7 kG has no significant influence on the relaxation value, suggesting the saturation of the cell magnetization. Macroscopic magnetization produced in the bulk of the glass as well as Cs-caused magnetization on the surface are proposed to be two different relaxation mechanisms present in the cells. The magnetization induced in cells has been determined independently of the 3He relaxation by SQUID measurements. The influence of Cs coating and of heating on T1 in magnetized cells is discussed.

We report on extensive studies on the intrinsic sensitivity of a combined 3 He/Cs magnetometer. The magnetometer relies on the detection of the free spin precession of nuclear spin polarized 3 He by optically pumped cesium magnetometers. We characterize the relevant processes involved in the detection and quantify their impact on the total sensitivity of the magnetometer. An expression is derived that predicts the sensitivity of this magnetometer scheme and the results are compared to experiments. Excellent agreement is found between theory and experiments, and implications for an application of a 3 He/Cs magnetometer in an experiment searching for a permanent neutron electric dipole moment are discussed.

We describe a spin-echo method for ultracold neutrons (UCNs) confined in a precession chamber and exposed to a $|B_0|=1~\text{\mu T}$ magnetic field. We have demonstrated that the analysis of UCN spin-echo resonance signals in combination with knowledge of the ambient magnetic field provides an excellent method by which to reconstruct the energy spectrum of a confined ensemble of neutrons. The method takes advantage of the relative dephasing of spins arising from a gravitationally induced striation of stored UCN of different energies, and also permits an improved determination of the vertical magnetic-field gradient with an exceptional accuracy of $1.1~\text{pT/cm}$. This novel combination of a well-known nuclear resonance method and gravitationally induced vertical striation is unique in the realm of nuclear and particle physics and should prove to be invaluable for the assessment of systematic effects in precision experiments such as searches for an electric dipole moment of the neutron or the measurement of the neutron lifetime., Comment: 7 pages 5 figures, accepted by PRL, September, 08 2015

We report on the design and performance of a highly sensitive combined $^3$He/Cs magnetometer for the absolute measurement of magnetic fields. The magnetometer relies on the magnetometric detection of the free spin precession of nuclear spin polarized $^3$He gas by optically pumped cesium magnetometers. We plan to deploy this type of combined magnetometer in an experiment searching for a permanent electric dipole moment of ultracold neutrons at the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland). A prototype magnetometer was built at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and tested at Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Berlin, Germany). We demonstrate that the combined magnetometer allows Cram\'er-Rao- limited field determinations with recording times in the range of $\sim 500\mathrm{s}$, measurements above $500\mathrm{s}$ being limited by the stability of the applied magnetic field. % With a $100\mathrm{s}$ recording time we were able to perform an absolute measurement of a magnetic field of $\approx1\mathrm{\mu T}$ with a standard uncertainty of $\Delta B\sim60\mathrm{fT}$, corresponding to $\Delta B/B, Comment: The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2015-60018-7

We compare the expected effects of so-called gravitationally enhanced depolarization of ultracold neutrons to measurements carried out in a spin-precession chamber exposed to a variety of vertical magnetic-field gradients. In particular, we have investigated the dependence upon these field gradients of spin depolarization rates and also of shifts in the measured neutron Larmor precession frequency. We find excellent qualitative agreement, with gravitationally enhanced depolarization accounting for several previously unexplained features in the data., Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures. Updated: section added about implications for current nEDM limit

In the first in a series of three papers on wall relaxation of spin polarized 3He we have reported on a breakdown of relaxation times which is observed after exposing the 3He containing glass cells to a strong magnetizing field. In this third paper we give a quantitative analysis of this phenomenon, based on magnetic signal detection by means of SQUIDs, on the pressure dependence of relaxation times in magnetized cells, as well as on Monte Carlo simulations of 3He-relaxation in a macroscopic dipole field. Our analysis allows to identify the contaminants as being aggregates of dust-like Fe3O4 particles (magnetite) with a radius \(R \approx 10~\mu\)m and a remanent magnetic moment of the order of m ≈O(10\(^{-10}~\)A m2). The particles are located at or close to the inner glass surface.

In this first in a series of three papers on wall relaxation of spin polarized, gaseous 3He we investigate both by theory and by experiment surface-induced spin relaxation due to paramagnetic sites in the containing glass. We present experimental and theoretical evidence that — contrary to the traditional opinion — distant dipolar coupling to paramagnetic impurities in the glass, in particular iron ions, cannot be the dominant relaxation mechanism of 3He-spins, although iron dominates the bulk static permeability. Instead dangling-bond type defects in the glass matrix are found to interact much stronger via the isotropic Fermi contact interaction. A model of paramagnetic site controlled 3He relaxation including the Fermi contact interaction is presented. With reasonable semi-empirical assumptions our model allows to describe satisfactorily the measured relaxivities, both in the dissolution-dominated regime of fused silica or borosilicate glasses of the Pyrex type as well as in the surface dominated situation of aluminosilicate glasses which have only a low permeability for He atoms. In a large sample of 1.1 litre cells, built from various aluminosilicate glasses, an average relaxation time of 150 h is reached in case contaminant ferromagnetic particles have been demagnetized beforehand. From the maximum observed value of 250 h we derive after subtraction of dipolar relaxation in the gas phase a paramagnetic surface relaxivity of ρ

In this second in a series of three papers on wall relaxation of 3He-spins we discuss relaxation in metal-coated glass cells in terms of hyperfine coupling to paramagnetic conduction electrons at the Fermi surface. This scales with the square of the work function of the coating and thereby also with its He-adsorption energy. In this sense we investigate coatings with particularly low work function and adsorption energy, namely Cs and Cs-suboxides. Although we observe a suppression of relaxation rates by two orders of magnitude as compared to bare Pyrex and fused silica walls, their temperature dependence still shows the same Arrhenius dependence as observed for bare substrates, instead of a T 3/2 dependence expected for a metallic surface. From this finding we conclude that, on one hand, the surface coverage is not complete and, on the other hand, the relaxation at the alkali surface itself is extremely slow. This finding is supported, too, by a semi-empirical estimate based on measured relaxation rates at ordinary metal surfaces, rescaled then with the respective dependence on adsorption energy.

Improved knowledge of the real part of the neutron scattering length of 3He is important for further development of nuclear few-body theory, as well as for a thorough understanding of neutron scattering off quantum liquids. The real part of the bound incoherent neutron scattering length b i' has recently been measured directly with an experimental uncertainty of better than 1% by means of spin echo spectrometry. The uncertainty of the more fundamental bound multiplet scattering lengths b ±' is thus limited by today's 1.2% uncertainty of the spin-independent coherent part b c'. Employing the skew-symmetric perfect crystal Si-interferometer at the S18 experimental site at ILL, Grenoble, we have re-measured the real part of the bound coherent neutron scattering length b c' of 3He. Our result b c' = 6.010(21)fm exhibits a significant deviation compared to the latest accepted value b c' = 5.74(7)fm (H. Kaiser, H. Rauch, G. Badurek, W. Bauspiess, U. Bonse, Z. Phys. A 291, 231 (1979)). Including the known value of the incoherent neutron scattering length, we obtain new values for the real parts of the free singlet and triplet scattering lengths, a -' = 7.573(30)fm and a +' = 3.480(18)fm. Our result contravenes by more than 7 standard deviations the measurement of the same physical quantity that has recently been performed by a group at NIST in a very similar experiment (P.R. Huffman, D.L. Jacobson, K. Schoen, M. Arif, T.C. Black, W.M. Snow, S.A. Werner, Phys. Rev. C 70, 014004 (2004)) which yielded b c' = 5.853(7)fm.

Imaging methods to study the lung are traditionally based on x-ray or on radioactive contrast agents. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has only limited applications for lung imaging because of the low tissue density of protons concentration of hydrogen atoms, which are usually the basis for the imaging. The introduction of hyperpolarized noble gases as a contrast agent in MRI has opened new possibilities for lung diagnosis. The present paper describes this new technique. Diffusion-weighted MRI for assessment of the lung microstructure is presented here as an example of the new possibilities of functional imaging. Studies to determine the sensitivity of the diffusion measurement and regarding the correlation with traditionally established methods are also presented, along with results of the measurement of the reproducibility determined in a clinical pilot study on healthy volunteers and patients. Furthermore, a pilot measurement of the 3He diffusion tensor in the lung is presented.

The apparatus described here, aSPECT, will be used for a measurement of the neutrino-electron angular correlation coefficient a in the decay of free neutrons. The idea of the aSPECT spectrometer is to measure the integrated proton energy spectrum very accurately using an energy filter by electrostatic retardation and magnetic adiabatic collimation. The main ideas of the spectrometer are presented, followed by an explanation of the adiabatic transmission function. Details of the superconducting coil and of the electrode system are given, as well as a discussion of the most important systematic effects: magnetic field and electrostatic potential inhomogeneities, deviation from adiabatic motion, scattering in the residual gas, background, Doppler effect, edge effect, and detector efficiency. Using this spectrometer, the parameter a is planned to be measured with an absolute experimental uncertainty of δa ≈ 3 . 10-4, from which the axial vector to vector coupling constant ratio λ can be determined with an accuracy of δλ ≈ 0.001.

The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a central production facility with distribution network for implementation of hyperpolarized 3-helium MRI. The 3-helium was hyperpolarized to 50-65% using a large-scale production facility based at a university in Germany. Using a specially designed transport box, containing a permanent low-field shielded magnet and dedicated iron-free glass cells, the hyperpolarized 3-helium gas was transported via airfreight to a university in the UK. At this location, the gas was used to perform in vivo MR experiments in normal volunteers and patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases. Following initial tests, the transport (road-air-road cargo) was successfully arranged on six occasions (approximately once per month). The duration of transport to imaging averaged 18 h (range 16-20 h), which was due mainly to organizational issues such as working times and flight connections. During the course of the project, polarization at imaging increased from 20% to more than 30%. A total of 4 healthy volunteers and 8 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were imaged. The feasibility of a central production facility for hyperpolarized 3-helium was demonstrated. This should enable a wider distribution of gas for this novel technology without the need for local start-up costs.

Asymmetries in quasi-elastic 3 He ( e → , e ′ p ) have been measured at a momentum transfer of 0.67 (GeV/ c ) 2 and are compared to a calculation which takes into account relativistic kinematics in the final state and a relativistic one-body current operator. With an exact solution of the Faddeev equation for the 3 He -ground state and an approximate treatment of final state interactions in the continuum good agreement is found with the experimental data.