Precise neutron lifetime experiment using pulsed neutron beams at J-PARC

Abstract

The neutron lifetime (τn) is one of the basic parameters in the weak interaction, and is used for predicting the light element abundance in the early universe. Our group developed a new setup to measure τn with the goal precision of 0.1% at the polarized beam branch BL05 of MLF, J-PARC. The commissioning data was acquired in 2014 and 2015, and the first set of data to evaluate τn in 2016, which is expected to yield a statistical uncertainty of O(1)%. This paper presents the current analysis results and the future plans to achieve our goal precision.