We analyze the depolarization of ultracold neutrons confined in a magnetic field configuration similar to those used in existing or proposed magneto-gravitational storage experiments aiming at a precise measurement of the neutron lifetime. We use an approximate quantum mechanical analysis such as pioneered by Walstrom \emph{et al} [Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 599, 82 (2009)]. Our analysis is not restricted to purely vertical modes of neutron motion. The lateral motion is shown to cause the predominant depolarization loss in a magnetic storage trap.
@article{arxiv.1307.5207,
title = {Spin flip loss in magnetic storage of ultracold neutrons},
author = {A. Steyerl and C. Kaufman and G. Müller and S. S. Malik and A. M. Desai},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1307.5207},
year = {2017}
}
Comments
12 pages, 3 figures, for Proceedings of Neutron Lifetime Workshop