Showing 1–15 of 15 results for author: Liu, C Y

Helmet ultrasound for brain imaging in post-hemicraniectomy patients

Authors: Yang Zhang, Karteekeya Sastry, Iyla Rossi, Joshua Olick-Gibson, Jonathan J. Russin, Charles Y. Liu, Lihong V. Wang

Abstract: Noninvasive imaging deep into the adult brain at submillimeter and millisecond scales remains a challenge in medical imaging. Here, we report a helmet based ultrasound brain imager built from a customized helmet, a scanned ultrasound array, and three dimensional printing for real time imaging of human brain anatomical and functional information. Through its application to post hemicraniectomy pati… ▽ More Noninvasive imaging deep into the adult brain at submillimeter and millisecond scales remains a challenge in medical imaging. Here, we report a helmet based ultrasound brain imager built from a customized helmet, a scanned ultrasound array, and three dimensional printing for real time imaging of human brain anatomical and functional information. Through its application to post hemicraniectomy patients in a sitting position, we achieved volumetric brain tissue structural, vascular, and blood flow images at centimeter scale depths with submillimeter and millisecond spatiotemporal resolutions. We also demonstrated the system capability to track cerebral blood flow over repeated imaging sessions, including during motion prone conditions. Our brain imager circumvents the skull and bridges the gap between high resolution human brain imaging and wearable convenience. This imager may serve as a platform for further investigations into human brain dynamics in post hemicraniectomy patients and offer insights into the brain that could surpass those obtained from non human primate studies. △ Less

Submitted 31 May, 2025; originally announced June 2025.

Rotational ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography of the human body

Authors: Yang Zhang, Shuai Na, Jonathan J. Russin, Karteekeya Sastry, Li Lin, Junfu Zheng, Yilin Luo, Xin Tong, Yujin An, Peng Hu, Konstantin Maslov, Tze-Woei Tan, Charles Y. Liu, Lihong V. Wang

Abstract: Imaging the human body's morphological and angiographic information is essential for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating medical conditions. Ultrasonography performs the morphological assessment of the soft tissue based on acoustic impedance variations, whereas photoacoustic tomography (PAT) can visualize blood vessels based on intrinsic hemoglobin absorption. Three-dimensional (3D) panoramic ima… ▽ More Imaging the human body's morphological and angiographic information is essential for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating medical conditions. Ultrasonography performs the morphological assessment of the soft tissue based on acoustic impedance variations, whereas photoacoustic tomography (PAT) can visualize blood vessels based on intrinsic hemoglobin absorption. Three-dimensional (3D) panoramic imaging of the vasculature is generally not practical in conventional ultrasonography with limited field-of-view (FOV) probes, and PAT does not provide sufficient scattering-based soft tissue morphological contrast. Complementing each other, fast panoramic rotational ultrasound tomography (RUST) and PAT are integrated for hybrid rotational ultrasound and photoacoustic tomography (RUS-PAT), which obtains 3D ultrasound structural and PAT angiographic images of the human body quasi-simultaneously. The RUST functionality is achieved in a cost-effective manner using a single-element ultrasonic transducer for ultrasound transmission and rotating arc-shaped arrays for 3D panoramic detection. RUST is superior to conventional ultrasonography, which either has a limited FOV with a linear array or is high-cost with a hemispherical array that requires both transmission and receiving. By switching the acoustic source to a light source, the system is conveniently converted to PAT mode to acquire angiographic images in the same region. Using RUS-PAT, we have successfully imaged the human head, breast, hand, and foot with a 10 cm diameter FOV, submillimeter isotropic resolution, and 10 s imaging time for each modality. The 3D RUS-PAT is a powerful tool for high-speed, 3D, dual-contrast imaging of the human body with potential for rapid clinical translation. △ Less

Submitted 22 April, 2025; originally announced April 2025.

Dynamics of Magnetic Evaporative Beamline Cooling for Preparation of Cold Atomic Beams

Authors: A. Ashtari Esfahani, S. Bhagvati, S. Böser, M. J. Brandsema, R. Cabral, V. A. Chirayath, C. Claessens, N. Coward, L. de Viveiros, P. J. Doe, M. G. Elliott, S. Enomoto, M. Fertl, J. A. Formaggio, B. T. Foust, J. K. Gaison, P. Harmston, K. M. Heeger, B. J. P. Jones, E. Karim, K. Kazkaz, P. T. Kolbeck, M. Li, A. Lindman, C. Y. Liu , et al. (33 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The most sensitive direct neutrino mass searches today are based on measurement of the endpoint of the beta spectrum of tritium to infer limits on the mass of the unobserved neutrino. To avoid the smearing associated with the distribution of molecular final states in the T-He molecule, the next generation of these experiments will need to employ atomic (T) rather than molecular (T$_{2}$) tritium s… ▽ More The most sensitive direct neutrino mass searches today are based on measurement of the endpoint of the beta spectrum of tritium to infer limits on the mass of the unobserved neutrino. To avoid the smearing associated with the distribution of molecular final states in the T-He molecule, the next generation of these experiments will need to employ atomic (T) rather than molecular (T$_{2}$) tritium sources, at currents of at least 10$^{15}$ atoms per second. Following production, atomic T can be trapped in gravitational and/or magnetic bottles for beta spectrum experiments, if and only if it can first be cooled to millikelvin temperatures. Accomplishing this cooling presents substantial technological challenges. The Project 8 collaboration is developing a technique based on magnetic evaporative cooling along a beamline (MECB) for the purpose of cooling T to feed a magneto-gravitational trap that also serves as a cyclotron radiation emission spectroscope. Initial tests of the approach are planned in a pathfinder apparatus using atomic Li. This paper presents a method for analyzing the dynamics of the MECB technique, and applies these calculations to the design of systems for cooling and slowing of atomic Li and T. A scheme is outlined that could provide a current of T at the millikelvin temperatures required for the Project 8 neutrino mass search. △ Less

Submitted 4 September, 2025; v1 submitted 31 January, 2025; originally announced February 2025.

Comments: Update to accepted version

Quadruply Bonded Mo$_2$ Molecules Acting as an Inborn Emitter-Resonator Quantum System in Free Space

Authors: Miao Meng, Ying Ning Tan, Zi Cong He, Zi Hao Zhong, Jia Zhou, Yu Li Zhou, Guang Yuan Zhu, Chun Y. Liu

Abstract: In recent decades, significant progress has been made in construction and study of individual quantum systems consisting of the basic single matter and energy particles, i.e., atoms and photons, which show great potentials in quantum computation and communication. Here, we demonstrate that the quadruply-bonded Mo$_2$ unit of the complex can trap photons of visible light under ambient conditions, p… ▽ More In recent decades, significant progress has been made in construction and study of individual quantum systems consisting of the basic single matter and energy particles, i.e., atoms and photons, which show great potentials in quantum computation and communication. Here, we demonstrate that the quadruply-bonded Mo$_2$ unit of the complex can trap photons of visible light under ambient conditions, producing intense local electromagnetic (EM) field that features squeezed states, photon antibunching, and vacuum Rabi splitting. Our results show that both the electronic and vibrational states of the Mo$_2$ molecule are modified by coherent coupling with the scattered photons of the Mo$_2$ unit, as evidenced by the Rabi doublet4 and the Mollow triplet in the incoherent resonance fluorescence and the Raman spectra. The Mo$_2$ molecule, acting as an independent emitter-resonator integrated quantum system, allows optical experiments to be conducted in free space, enabling fundamental quantum phenomena to be observed through conventional spectroscopic instrumentation. This provides a new platform for study of field effects and quantum electrodynamics (QED) in the optical domain. The insights gained from this study advance our understanding in metal-metal bond chemistry, molecular physics and quantum optics, with applications in quantum information processing, optoelectronic devices and control of chemical reactivity. △ Less

Submitted 6 April, 2025; v1 submitted 2 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Quantization of Visible Light by a Ni$_2$ Molecular Optical Resonator

Authors: Miao Meng, Ying Ning Tan, Yu Li Zhou, Zi Cong He, Zi Hao Zhong, Jia Zhou, Guang Yuan Zhu, Chun Y. Liu

Abstract: The quantization of an optical field is a frontier in quantum optics with implications for both fundamental science and technological applications. Here, we demonstrate that a dinickel complex (Ni$_2$) traps and quantizes classical visible light, behaving as an individual quantum system or the Jaynes Cummings molecule.The composite system forms through coherently coupling the two level NiNi charge… ▽ More The quantization of an optical field is a frontier in quantum optics with implications for both fundamental science and technological applications. Here, we demonstrate that a dinickel complex (Ni$_2$) traps and quantizes classical visible light, behaving as an individual quantum system or the Jaynes Cummings molecule.The composite system forms through coherently coupling the two level NiNi charge transfer transition with the local scattering field, which produces nonclassical light featuring photon anti bunching and squeezed states, as verified by a sequence of discrete photonic modes in the incoherent resonance fluorescence. Notably, in this Ni$_2$ system, the collective coupling of N molecule ensembles scales as N, distinct from the Tavis-Cummings model, which allows easy achievement of ultrastrong coupling. This is exemplified by a vacuum Rabi splitting of 1.2 eV at the resonance (3.25 eV) and a normalized coupling rate of 0.18 for the N = 4 ensemble. The resulting quantum light of single photonic modes enables driving the molecule field interaction in cavity free solution, which profoundly modifies the electronic states. Our results establish Ni$_2$ as a robust platform for quantum optical phenomena under ambient conditions, offering new pathways for molecular physics, polaritonic chemistry and quantum information processing. △ Less

Submitted 6 April, 2025; v1 submitted 2 December, 2024; originally announced December 2024.

Suppression and excitation condition of collision on instabilities of electrostatic plasmas

Authors: Y. W. Hou, M. Y. Yu, J. F. Wang, C. Y. Liu, M. X. Chen, B. Wu

Abstract: Two-stream (TS) and Bump-On-Tail (BOT) electron distributions can induce instabilities in collisionless plasmas, which is closely related to phenomena in space and fusion plasmas. Collisions can lead to unexpected plasma behavior, especially in dense and/or low temperature plasmas. In this work, the Vlasov-Poisson system with Krook collisions are used to study the effect of collisions. Normally, t… ▽ More Two-stream (TS) and Bump-On-Tail (BOT) electron distributions can induce instabilities in collisionless plasmas, which is closely related to phenomena in space and fusion plasmas. Collisions can lead to unexpected plasma behavior, especially in dense and/or low temperature plasmas. In this work, the Vlasov-Poisson system with Krook collisions are used to study the effect of collisions. Normally, the collision can dissipate the system energy which causes the suppression of the instabilities. Against the traditional suppression effect of collision on the instability, it is found in our simulation that the collision can also excite the instability even in the forbidden beam velocity range predicted by the cold-beam theory. With collision, the beam velocity range can be divided into suppression area [vth/2, vc + vth], transition area [vc - vth, vc + vth], excitation area [vc + vth, 2vc] and forbidden area [2vc, +infinity] for TS instability. where vc is the critical velocity from cold-beam theory and vth is thermal velocity or the beam width in our simulation. The collision dissipation effect and the excitation of beam instability can compete with each other, which evoked the excitation of collision on TS instability. The collision can change the suppression and excitation condition from beam theory. However, for BOT instability, there is only suppression effect of collision on the instability. These results can expand the view of collision effect on instability of electrostatic plasmas. △ Less

Submitted 10 July, 2024; originally announced July 2024.

Demonstration of Sub-micron UCN Position Resolution using Room-temperature CMOS Sensor

Authors: S. Lin, J. K. Baldwin, M. Blatnik, S. M. Clayton, C. Cude-Woods, S. A. Currie, B. Filippone, E. M. Fries, P. Geltenbort, A. T. Holley, W. Li, C. Y. Liu, M. Makela, C. L. Morris, R. Musedinovic, C. O'Shaughnessy, R. W. Pattie, D. J. Salvat, A. Saunders, E. I. Sharapov, M. Singh, X. Sun, Z. Tang, W. Uhrich, W. Wei , et al. (3 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: High spatial resolution of ultracold neutron (UCN) measurement is of growing interest to UCN experiments such as UCN spectrometers, UCN polarimeters, quantum physics of UCNs, and quantum gravity. Here we utilize physics-informed deep learning to enhance the experimental position resolution and to demonstrate sub-micron spatial resolutions for UCN position measurements obtained using a room-tempera… ▽ More High spatial resolution of ultracold neutron (UCN) measurement is of growing interest to UCN experiments such as UCN spectrometers, UCN polarimeters, quantum physics of UCNs, and quantum gravity. Here we utilize physics-informed deep learning to enhance the experimental position resolution and to demonstrate sub-micron spatial resolutions for UCN position measurements obtained using a room-temperature CMOS sensor, extending our previous work [1, 2] that demonstrated a position uncertainty of 1.5 microns. We explore the use of the open-source software Allpix Squared to generate experiment-like synthetic hit images with ground-truth position labels. We use physics-informed deep learning by training a fully-connected neural network (FCNN) to learn a mapping from input hit images to output hit position. The automated analysis for sub-micron position resolution in UCN detection combined with the fast data rates of current and next generation UCN sources will enable improved precision for future UCN research and applications. △ Less

Submitted 16 May, 2023; originally announced May 2023.

Transcranial photoacoustic computed tomography of human brain function

Authors: Yang Zhang, Shuai Na, Karteekeya Sastry, Jonathan J. Russin, Peng Hu, Li Lin, Xin Tong, Kay B. Jann, Danny J. Wang, Charles Y. Liu, Lihong V. Wang

Abstract: Herein we report the first in-human transcranial imaging of brain function using photoacoustic computed tomography. Functional responses to benchmark motor tasks were imaged on both the skull-less and the skull-intact hemispheres of a hemicraniectomy patient. The observed brain responses in these preliminary results demonstrate the potential of photoacoustic computed tomography for achieving trans… ▽ More Herein we report the first in-human transcranial imaging of brain function using photoacoustic computed tomography. Functional responses to benchmark motor tasks were imaged on both the skull-less and the skull-intact hemispheres of a hemicraniectomy patient. The observed brain responses in these preliminary results demonstrate the potential of photoacoustic computed tomography for achieving transcranial functional imaging. △ Less

Submitted 1 June, 2022; originally announced June 2022.

Characterization of magnetic field noise in the ARIADNE source mass rotor

Authors: Nancy Aggarwal, Allard Schnabel, Jens Voigt, Alex Brown, Josh C Long, L. Trahms, A. Fang, Andrew Geraci, A. Kapitulnik, D. Kim, Y. Kim, I. Lee, Y. H. Lee, C. Y. Liu, C. Lohmeyer, A. Reid, Y. Semertzidis, Y. Shin, J. Shortino, E. Smith, W. M. Snow, E. Weisman

Abstract: ARIADNE is a nuclear-magnetic-resonance-based experiment that will search for novel axion-induced spin-dependent interactions between an unpolarized source mass rotor and a nearby sample of spin-polarized $^3$He gas. To detect feeble axion signals at the sub-atto-Tesla level, the experiment relies on low magnetic background and noise. We measure and characterize the magnetic field background from… ▽ More ARIADNE is a nuclear-magnetic-resonance-based experiment that will search for novel axion-induced spin-dependent interactions between an unpolarized source mass rotor and a nearby sample of spin-polarized $^3$He gas. To detect feeble axion signals at the sub-atto-Tesla level, the experiment relies on low magnetic background and noise. We measure and characterize the magnetic field background from a prototype tungsten rotor. We show that the requirement is met with our current level of tungsten purity and demagnetization process. We further show that the noise is dominantly caused by a few discrete dipoles, likely due to a few impurities trapped inside the rotor during manufacturing. This is done via a numerical optimization pipeline which fits for the locations and magnetic moments of each dipole. We find that under the current demagnetization, the magnetic moment of trapped impurities is bounded at $10^{-9} \mathrm{A}\mathrm{m}^2$. △ Less

Submitted 25 November, 2020; originally announced November 2020.

Comments: 6 pages, 5 figures

Source mass characterization in the ARIADNE axion experiment

Authors: Chloe Lohmeyer, Nancy Aggarwal, Asimina Arvanitaki, Alex Brown, Alan Fang, Andrew A Geraci, Aharon Kapitulnik, Dongok Kim, Younggeun Kim, Inbum Lee, Yong Ho Lee, Eli Levenson-Falk, Chen Yu Liu, Josh C Long, Sam Mumford, Austin Reid, Allard Schnabel, Yannis Semertzidis, Yun Shin, Justin Shortino, Eric Smith, William M Snow, Lutz Trahms, Jens Voigt, Evan Weisman

Abstract: The Axion Resonant InterAction Detection Experiment (ARIADNE) is a collaborative effort to search for the QCD axion using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), where the axion acts as a mediator of spin-dependent forces between an unpolarized tungsten source mass and a sample of polarized helium-3 gas. Since the experiment involves precision measurement of a small magnetization, it relies on limiting… ▽ More The Axion Resonant InterAction Detection Experiment (ARIADNE) is a collaborative effort to search for the QCD axion using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), where the axion acts as a mediator of spin-dependent forces between an unpolarized tungsten source mass and a sample of polarized helium-3 gas. Since the experiment involves precision measurement of a small magnetization, it relies on limiting ordinary magnetic noise with superconducting magnetic shielding. In addition to the shielding, proper characterization of the noise level from other sources is crucial. We investigate one such noise source in detail: the magnetic noise due to impurities and Johnson noise in the tungsten source mass. △ Less

Submitted 19 November, 2020; originally announced November 2020.

Comments: ARIADNE Collaboration

Journal ref: Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Microwave Cavities and Detectors for Axion Research 2020

Ultracold Neutron Properties of the Eljen-299-02D deuterated scintillator

Authors: Z. Tang, E. B. Watkins, S. M. Clayton, S. A. Currie, D. E. Fellers, Md. T. Hassan, D. E. Hooks, T. M. Ito, S. K. Lawrence, S. W. T. MacDonald, M. Makela, C. L. Morris, L. P. Neukirch, A. Saunders, C. M. O'Shaughnessy, C. Cude-Woods, J. H. Choi, A. R. Young, B. A. Zeck, F. Gonzalez, C. Y. Liu, N. C. Floyd, K. P. Hickerson, A. T. Holley, B. A. Johnson , et al. (2 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: In this paper we report studies of the Fermi potential and loss per bounce of ultracold neutron (UCN) on a deuterated scintillator (Eljen-299-02D). These UCN properties of the scintillator enables a wide variety of applications in fundamental neutron research. In this paper we report studies of the Fermi potential and loss per bounce of ultracold neutron (UCN) on a deuterated scintillator (Eljen-299-02D). These UCN properties of the scintillator enables a wide variety of applications in fundamental neutron research. △ Less

Submitted 25 September, 2020; originally announced September 2020.

Comments: 6 pages, 6 figures

A New Cryogenic Apparatus to Search for the Neutron Electric Dipole Moment

Authors: M. W. Ahmed, R. Alarcon, A. Aleksandrova, S. Baessler, L. Barron-Palos, L. M. Bartoszek, D. H. Beck, M. Behzadipour, I. Berkutov, J. Bessuille, M. Blatnik, M. Broering, L. J. Broussard, M. Busch, R. Carr, V. Cianciolo, S. M. Clayton, M. D. Cooper, C. Crawford, S. A. Currie, C. Daurer, R. Dipert, K. Dow, D. Dutta, Y. Efremenko , et al. (69 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: A cryogenic apparatus is described that enables a new experiment, nEDM@SNS, with a major improvement in sensitivity compared to the existing limit in the search for a neutron Electric Dipole Moment (EDM). It uses superfluid $^4$He to produce a high density of Ultra-Cold Neutrons (UCN) which are contained in a suitably coated pair of measurement cells. The experiment, to be operated at the Spallati… ▽ More A cryogenic apparatus is described that enables a new experiment, nEDM@SNS, with a major improvement in sensitivity compared to the existing limit in the search for a neutron Electric Dipole Moment (EDM). It uses superfluid $^4$He to produce a high density of Ultra-Cold Neutrons (UCN) which are contained in a suitably coated pair of measurement cells. The experiment, to be operated at the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, uses polarized $^3$He from an Atomic Beam Source injected into the superfluid $^4$He and transported to the measurement cells as a co-magnetometer. The superfluid $^4$He is also used as an insulating medium allowing significantly higher electric fields, compared to previous experiments, to be maintained across the measurement cells. These features provide an ultimate statistical uncertainty for the EDM of $2-3\times 10^{-28}$ e-cm, with anticipated systematic uncertainties below this level. △ Less

Submitted 20 November, 2019; v1 submitted 26 August, 2019; originally announced August 2019.

Journal ref: Journal of Instrumentation, Vol 14, P11017, 2019

Improvement of charge resolution for radioactive heavy ions at relativistic energies using a hybrid detector system

Authors: J. W. Zhao, B. H. Sun, L. C. He, G. S. Li, W. J. Lin, C. Y. Liu, Z. Liu, C. G. Lu, D. P. Shen, Y. Z. Sun, Z. Y. Sun, I. Tanihata, S. Terashima, D. T. Tran, F. Wang, J. Wang, S. T. Wang, X. L. Wei, X. D. Xu, L. H. Zhu, J. C. Zhang, X. H. Zhang, Y. Zhang, Z. T. Zhou, Z. T. Zhou

Abstract: In typical nuclear physics experiments with radioactive ion beams (RIBs) selected by the in-flight separation technique, Si detectors or ionization chambers are usually equipped for the charge determination of RIBs. The obtained charge resolution relies on the performance of these detectors for energy loss determination, and this affects the particle identification capability of RIBs. We present a… ▽ More In typical nuclear physics experiments with radioactive ion beams (RIBs) selected by the in-flight separation technique, Si detectors or ionization chambers are usually equipped for the charge determination of RIBs. The obtained charge resolution relies on the performance of these detectors for energy loss determination, and this affects the particle identification capability of RIBs. We present an approach on improving the resolution of charge measurement for heavy ions by using the abundant energy loss information from different types of existing detectors along the beam line. Without altering the beam line and detectors, this approach can improve the charge resolution by more than 12\% relative to the multiple sampling ionization chamber of the best resolution. △ Less

Submitted 9 January, 2019; originally announced January 2019.

Comments: 8 pages, 5 figures

Journal ref: NIMA 930(2019)95

Performance of the upgraded ultracold neutron source at Los Alamos National Laboratory and its implication for a possible neutron electric dipole moment experiment

Authors: T. M. Ito, E. R. Adamek, N. B. Callahan, J. H. Choi, S. M. Clayton, C. Cude-Woods, S. Currie, X. Ding, D. E. Fellers, P. Geltenbort, S. K. Lamoreaux, C. Y. Liu, S. MacDonald, M. Makela, C. L. Morris, R. W. Pattie Jr., J. C. Ramsey, D. J. Salvat, A. Saunders, E. I. Sharapov, S. Sjue, A. P. Sprow, Z. Tang, H. L. Weaver, W. Wei , et al. (1 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: The ultracold neutron (UCN) source at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which uses solid deuterium as the UCN converter and is driven by accelerator spallation neutrons, has been successfully operated for over 10 years, providing UCN to various experiments, as the first production UCN source based on the superthermal process. It has recently undergone a major upgrade. This paper describes the… ▽ More The ultracold neutron (UCN) source at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which uses solid deuterium as the UCN converter and is driven by accelerator spallation neutrons, has been successfully operated for over 10 years, providing UCN to various experiments, as the first production UCN source based on the superthermal process. It has recently undergone a major upgrade. This paper describes the design and performance of the upgraded LANL UCN source. Measurements of the cold neutron spectrum and UCN density are presented and compared to Monte Carlo predictions. The source is shown to perform as modeled. The UCN density measured at the exit of the biological shield was $184(32)$ UCN/cm$^3$, a four-fold increase from the highest previously reported. The polarized UCN density stored in an external chamber was measured to be $39(7)$ UCN/cm$^3$, which is sufficient to perform an experiment to search for the nonzero neutron electric dipole moment with a one-standard-deviation sensitivity of $σ(d_n) = 3\times 10^{-27}$ $e\cdot$cm. △ Less

Submitted 16 January, 2018; v1 submitted 14 October, 2017; originally announced October 2017.

Comments: 6 pages, 6 figures

Report number: LA-UR-17-29313

Journal ref: Phys. Rev. C 97, 012501 (2018)

Evaluation of commercial nickel-phosphorus coating for ultracold neutron guides using a pinhole bottling method

Authors: R. W. Pattie Jr, E. Adamek, T. Brenner, A. Brandt, L. J. Broussard, N. B. Callahan, S. M. Clayton, C. Cude-Woods, S. A. Currie, P. Geltonbort, T. Ito, T. Lauer, C. Y. Liu, J. Majewski, M. Makela, Y. Masuda, C. L. Morris, J. C. Ramsey, D. Salvat, A. Saunders, J. Schroffenegger, Z. Tang, W. Wei, Z. Wang, E. Watkins , et al. (2 additional authors not shown)

Abstract: We report on the evaluation of commercial electroless nickel phosphorus (NiP) coatings for ultracold neutron (UCN) transport and storage. The material potential of 50~$μ$m thick NiP coatings on stainless steel and aluminum substrates was measured to be $V_F = 213(5.2)$~neV using the time-of-flight spectrometer ASTERIX at the Lujan Center. The loss per bounce probability was measured in pinhole bot… ▽ More We report on the evaluation of commercial electroless nickel phosphorus (NiP) coatings for ultracold neutron (UCN) transport and storage. The material potential of 50~$μ$m thick NiP coatings on stainless steel and aluminum substrates was measured to be $V_F = 213(5.2)$~neV using the time-of-flight spectrometer ASTERIX at the Lujan Center. The loss per bounce probability was measured in pinhole bottling experiments carried out at ultracold neutron sources at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center and the Institut Laue-Langevin. For these tests a new guide coupling design was used to minimize gaps between the guide sections. The observed UCN loss in the bottle was interpreted in terms of an energy independent effective loss per bounce, which is the appropriate model when gaps in the system and upscattering are the dominate loss mechanisms, yielding a loss per bounce of $1.3(1) \times 10^{-4}$. We also present a detailed discussion of the pinhole bottling methodology and an energy dependent analysis of the experimental results. △ Less

Submitted 1 March, 2017; originally announced March 2017.

Comments: 13 pages, 14 figures