The Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark mixing matrix has traditionally been determined from the analysis of data in nuclear superallowed 0+ to 0+ transitions, neutron decay and pion beta decay. We show here that this element can independently be determined from nuclear mirror transitions. The extracted value, |Vud| = 0.9719 +- 0.0017, is at 1.2 combined standard deviations from the value obtained in superallowed 0+ to 0+ transitions and has a similar precision than the value obtained from neutron decay experiments. We discuss some prospects to improve its precision through experiments in nuclear mirror transitions.
We review the determination of Vud from nuclear mirror transitions and describe current experimental and theoretical efforts aimed at improving its precision.
The matrix element Vud of the CKM matrix can be determined by two independent measurements on neutron decay: the neutron lifetime tau and the ratio of coupling constants lambda, which is most precisely determined by measurements of the beta asymmetry angular correlation coefficient A. We present recent progress on the determination of these values and derive a world average of Vud = 0.9743 (2)RC (8)tau (12)lambda.
With more intense sources of cold and ultracold neutrons becoming available and with improved experimental techniques being developed, determination of |Vud| from neutron beta decay with a similar precision to that from from superallowed beta decays is within reach. Determination of |Vud| from neutron beta decay, free from nuclear corrections, hold the most promise for a further improvement of the determination of |Vud|. The current and future neutron beta decay correlation experiments including the UCNA experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory are reviewed
Measurements of neutron beta decay observables required to determine $|V_{ud}|$ are reaching the 0.1% accuracy. In this paper we review the calculation of the decay rate of this process, discuss its relevant uncertainties, and obtain an expression that is precise at the $10^{-4}$ level. Our analysis clearly shows the necessity of measurements of $λ$, the ratio of axial/vector couplings. The current situation in neutron beta decay is that one cannot yet quote a single consistent value for $|V_{ud}|$ from it. We also discuss the region of parameter space in the $|V_{ud}|$--$λ$ plane where new ph…
The Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix can be determined from several different experimental approaches: either 0+-to-0+ superallowed nuclear beta decays, neutron decay, nuclear mirror decays, or pion beta decay. Currently all give consistent results but, because the nuclear superallowed value has an uncertainty at least a factor of seven less than all other results, it dominates the result. A new survey of world superallowed-decay data establishes the Ft values of 14 separate superallowed transitions to a precision of order 0.1% or better; and all 14 are statistically consist…
Nuclear beta decays between (J^pi,T) = (0^+,1) analog states yield the best value for the Vud element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix. Current world data establish the corrected Ft values of 14 separate superallowed transitions to a precision of order 0.1% or better. The validity of the small theoretical correction terms is confirmed by excellent consistency among the 14 Ft values and by recent measurements that compare pairs of mirror superallowed transitions. With consistency established, the results now yield |Vud| = 0.97420(21). This value is consistent with the considerably less p…
We report the first branching-ratio measurement of the superallowed 0+-to-0+ beta transition from 38Ca. The result, 0.7728(16), leads to an ft value of 3062.3(68)s with a relative precision of +/-0.2%. This makes possible a high-precision comparison of the ft values for the mirror superallowed transitions, 38Ca-to-38mK and 38mK-to-38Ar, which sensitively tests the isospin symmetry-breaking corrections required to extract Vud, the up-down quark-mixing element of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, from superallowed beta decay. The result supports the corrections currently used, and poin…
We present the full description of a measurement of the branching ratios for the beta-decay of 38Ca. This decay includes five allowed 0+ --> 1+ branches and a superallowed 0+ --> 0+ one. With our new result for the latter, we determine its ft value to be 3062.3(68) s, a result whose precision (0.2%) is comparable to the precision of the thirteen well known 0+ --> 0+ transitions used up till now for the determination of Vud, the up-down quark-mixing element of the CKM matrix. The 38Ca superallowed transition thus becomes the first addition to this set of transitions in nearly a decade and the f…
We report on high-precision $Q_{\textrm{EC}}$ values of the $^{21}$Na$\rightarrow^{21}$Ne and $^{23}$Mg$\rightarrow^{23}$Na mirror $β$-transitions from mass measurements with ISOLTRAP at ISOLDE/CERN. A precision of $δm/m = 9 \cdot 10^{-10}$ and $δm/m = 1.5 \cdot 10^{-9}$ was reached for the masses of $^{21}$Na and $^{23}$Mg, respectively. We reduce the uncertainty of the $Q_{\textrm{EC}}$ values by a factor five, making them the most precise experimental input data for the calculation of the corrected $\mathcal{F} t$-value of these mixed Fermi/Gamow-Teller transitions. For the $^{21}$Na$\right…
It has been recently suggested that differences in the charge radii of mirror nuclei are proportional to the neutron-skin thickness of neutron-rich nuclei and to the slope of the symmetry energy $L$ [B.A. Brown Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 122502 (2017)]. The determination of the neutron skin has important implications for nuclear physics and astrophysics. Although the use of electroweak probes provides a largely model-independent determination of the neutron skin, the experimental challenges are enormous. Thus, the possibility that differences in the charge radii of mirror nuclei may be used as a su…
We report on a new measurement of the neutron beta-asymmetry parameter $A$ with the instrument \perkeo. Main advancements are the high neutron polarization of $P = 99.7(1)%$ from a novel arrangement of super mirror polarizers and reduced background from improvements in beam line and shielding. Leading corrections were thus reduced by a factor of 4, pushing them below the level of statistical error and resulting in a significant reduction of systematic uncertainty compared to our previous experiments. From the result $A_0 = -0.11996(58)$, we derive the ratio of the axial-vector to the vector co…
The values of the antineutron-nucleus scattering lengths, and in particular their imaginary parts, are needed to evaluate the feasibility of using neutron mirrors in laboratory experiments to search for neutron-antineutron oscillations. We analyze existing experimental and theoretical constraints on these values with emphasis on low $A$ nuclei and use the results to suggest materials for the neutron/antineutron guide and to evaluate the systematic uncertainties in estimating the neutron-antineutron oscillation time. As an example we discuss a scenario for a future neutron-antineutron oscillati…
The stable nucleus $^{15}$N is the mirror of $^{15}$O, the bottleneck in the hydrogen burning CNO cycle. Most of the $^{15}$N level widths below the proton emission threshold are known from just one nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) measurement, with limited precision in some cases. A recent experiment with the AGATA demonstrator array determined level lifetimes using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) in $^{15}$O. As a reference and for testing the method, level lifetimes in $^{15}$N have also been determined in the same experiment. The latest compilation of $^{15}$N level propert…
We present a parameterization of the statistical rate function, f, for 20 superallowed 0+-to-0+ nuclear beta transitions between T=1 analog states, and for 18 superallowed "mirror" transitions between analog T=1/2 states. All these transitions are of interest in the determination of V_{ud}. Although most of the transition Q_{EC} values have been measured, their precision will undoubtedly be improved in future. Our parameterization allows a user to easily calculate the corresponding new f value to high precision (+/-0.01%) without complicated computing.
Offline Commissioning of the St. Benedict Gas Catcher
University of Notre Dame（圣母大学）；École normale supérieure Paris-Saclay（巴黎萨克雷高等师范学院）；Argonne National Laboratory（阿贡国家实验室）；University of Tennessee（田纳西大学）；University of Chicago（芝加哥大学）
Charge radii of Cl isotopes from x-ray spectroscopy of muonic atoms
Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik（马克斯·普朗克核物理研究所）；KU Leuven, Instituut voor Kern- en Stralingsfysica（荷语鲁汶大学核与辐射物理学研究所）；Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering（霍里亚·胡卢贝伊国家物理与核工程研发研究所）；Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut d’Astronomie et d’Astrophysique（布鲁塞尔自由大学天文与天体物理研究所）；Brussels Laboratory of the Universe-BLU-ULB（布鲁塞尔宇宙实验室）；PSI Center for Neutron and Muon Sciences（保罗谢勒研究所中子与μ子科学中心）；ETH Zürich, Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics（苏黎世联邦理工学院粒子物理与天体物理研究所）；The Helen Diller Quantum Center, Department of Physics, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology（以色列理工学院海伦·迪勒量子中心物理学系）；Institut für Kernphysik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz（美因茨约翰内斯·古腾堡大学核物理研究所）；PRISMA ++ Cluster of Excellence, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz（美因茨约翰内斯·古腾堡大学PRISMA++卓越集群）；Institute of Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences（斯洛伐克科学院物理研究所）；Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, ENS-PSL Research University, Collège de France（卡斯特尔-布罗塞尔实验室）
