Production of Ultra-Cold-Neutrons in Solid Alpha Oxygen
Gutsmiedl, E. and Frei, A. and Boehle, F. and Maier, A. and Paul, S. and Schober, H. and Orecchini, A.
Keywords
Nuclear Experiment
Abstract
Our recent neutron scattering measurements of phonons and magnons in solid alpha-oxygen have led us to a new understanding of the production mechanismen of ultra-cold-neutrons (UCN) in this super-thermal converter. The UCN production in solid alpha-oxygen is dominated by the excitation of phonons. The contribution of magnons to UCN production becomes only slightly important above E >10 meV and at E >4 meV. Solid alpha-oxygen is in comparison to solid deuterium less effcient in the down-scattering of thermal or cold neutrons into the UCN energy regime.
