We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the sp... more We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the spectral triple dictated by the physical spectrum of the standard model, unifying gravity with all other fundamental interactions. We prove that the spectral action predicts uniquely the gravitational boundary term required for consistency of quantum gravity with the correct sign and coefficient. This is a remarkable result given the lack of freedom in the spectral action to tune this term.
The neutron decay spectrometera SPECT has been built to perform a precise measurement of the prot... more The neutron decay spectrometera SPECT has been built to perform a precise measurement of the proton spectrum shape in the decay of free neutrons. Such a measurement allows a determination of the neutrino electron angular-correlation coefficienta . The present best experiments have an uncertainty of Δa/a = 5% and since the seventies there is no substantial improvement. Witha SPECT, we aim for an uncertainty which is lower by more than an order of magnitude, thus enabling us to perform several precise tests of the Standard Model. In our first beam time at the particle physics beam MEPHISTO at the Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, we studied the properties of the spectrometer. The most serious problem turned out to be the situation- and time-dependent behavior of the background. From the data sets from this beam time in which a background problem was not obvious, we could extract a value ofa = - 0.1151±0.0040stat , but we could not quantify the background uncertainty. We show ways to deal with the background and other problems for future beam times.
The aim of this work is the experimental observation of and research into a rare neutron mode, th... more The aim of this work is the experimental observation of and research into a rare neutron mode, the radiative beta decay, where a new particle, the radiative gamma quantum, is formed along with the expected decay products: a beta electron, a recoil proton, and an antineutrino. The discovery of this rare neutron decay mode was conducted through identification of triple-coincidence events: simultaneous registration of a beta electron, a proton, and a radiative gamma quantum. The ordinary neutron decay was registered by double coincidences of a beta electron and a recoil proton. The statistics collected allow one to deduce the branching ratio (BR) BR = (3.2 ± 1.6) × 10−3 (90% C.L.) in the gamma energy region greater than 35 keV. This value of BR is consistent with standard electroweak theory.
We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the sp... more We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the spectral triple dictated by the physical spectrum of the standard model, unifying gravity with all other fundamental interactions. We prove that the spectral action predicts uniquely the gravitational boundary term required for consistency of quantum gravity with the correct sign and coefficient. This is a remarkable result given the lack of freedom in the spectral action to tune this term.
We report the first successful extraction of accumulated ultracold neutrons (UCN) from a converte... more We report the first successful extraction of accumulated ultracold neutrons (UCN) from a converter of superfluid helium, in which they were produced by downscattering neutrons of a cold beam from the Munich research reactor. Windowless UCN extraction is performed in vertical direction through a mechanical cold valve. This prototype of a versatile UCN source is comprised of a novel cryostat designed to keep the source portable and to allow for rapid cooldown. We measured time constants for UCN storage and extraction into a detector at room temperature, with the converter held at various temperatures between 0.7 and 1.3 K. The UCN production rate inferred from the count rate of extracted UCN is close to the theoretical expectation.
The aim of this work is experimental discovery and research of the neutron radiative beta-decay, ... more The aim of this work is experimental discovery and research of the neutron radiative beta-decay, where a new particle, the radiative gamma-quantum, is formed along with the expected decay products beta-electron, recoil proton and antineutrino. The discovery of this rare neutron decay mode was conducted through identification of triple coincidences events: simultaneous registration of beta electron, proton and radiative gamma-quantum. The ordinary neutron decay was registered by double coincidences of beta electron and recoil proton. The ratio of triple to double coincidences is connected with relative intensity of radiative neutron decay (branching ratio -B.R.) B.R. = (3.2±1.6)·10 -3 (with 99.7 % C.L. and in the gamma energy region greater than 35 keV ), which we are the first in the world to measure during the second and third cycles on FRMII ( TUM, Germany ) in Summer 2005 [1]. This value of B.R. is consistent with standard electroweak theory.
We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the sp... more We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the spectral triple dictated by the physical spectrum of the standard model, unifying gravity with all other fundamental interactions. We prove that the spectral action predicts uniquely the gravitational boundary term required for consistency of quantum gravity with the correct sign and coefficient. This is a remarkable result given the lack of freedom in the spectral action to tune this term.
The neutron decay spectrometera SPECT has been built to perform a precise measurement of the prot... more The neutron decay spectrometera SPECT has been built to perform a precise measurement of the proton spectrum shape in the decay of free neutrons. Such a measurement allows a determination of the neutrino electron angular-correlation coefficienta . The present best experiments have an uncertainty of Δa/a = 5% and since the seventies there is no substantial improvement. Witha SPECT, we aim for an uncertainty which is lower by more than an order of magnitude, thus enabling us to perform several precise tests of the Standard Model. In our first beam time at the particle physics beam MEPHISTO at the Forschungsneutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, we studied the properties of the spectrometer. The most serious problem turned out to be the situation- and time-dependent behavior of the background. From the data sets from this beam time in which a background problem was not obvious, we could extract a value ofa = - 0.1151±0.0040stat , but we could not quantify the background uncertainty. We show ways to deal with the background and other problems for future beam times.
The aim of this work is the experimental observation of and research into a rare neutron mode, th... more The aim of this work is the experimental observation of and research into a rare neutron mode, the radiative beta decay, where a new particle, the radiative gamma quantum, is formed along with the expected decay products: a beta electron, a recoil proton, and an antineutrino. The discovery of this rare neutron decay mode was conducted through identification of triple-coincidence events: simultaneous registration of a beta electron, a proton, and a radiative gamma quantum. The ordinary neutron decay was registered by double coincidences of a beta electron and a recoil proton. The statistics collected allow one to deduce the branching ratio (BR) BR = (3.2 ± 1.6) × 10−3 (90% C.L.) in the gamma energy region greater than 35 keV. This value of BR is consistent with standard electroweak theory.
We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the sp... more We study the boundary terms of the spectral action of the noncommutative space, defined by the spectral triple dictated by the physical spectrum of the standard model, unifying gravity with all other fundamental interactions. We prove that the spectral action predicts uniquely the gravitational boundary term required for consistency of quantum gravity with the correct sign and coefficient. This is a remarkable result given the lack of freedom in the spectral action to tune this term.
We report the first successful extraction of accumulated ultracold neutrons (UCN) from a converte... more We report the first successful extraction of accumulated ultracold neutrons (UCN) from a converter of superfluid helium, in which they were produced by downscattering neutrons of a cold beam from the Munich research reactor. Windowless UCN extraction is performed in vertical direction through a mechanical cold valve. This prototype of a versatile UCN source is comprised of a novel cryostat designed to keep the source portable and to allow for rapid cooldown. We measured time constants for UCN storage and extraction into a detector at room temperature, with the converter held at various temperatures between 0.7 and 1.3 K. The UCN production rate inferred from the count rate of extracted UCN is close to the theoretical expectation.
The aim of this work is experimental discovery and research of the neutron radiative beta-decay, ... more The aim of this work is experimental discovery and research of the neutron radiative beta-decay, where a new particle, the radiative gamma-quantum, is formed along with the expected decay products beta-electron, recoil proton and antineutrino. The discovery of this rare neutron decay mode was conducted through identification of triple coincidences events: simultaneous registration of beta electron, proton and radiative gamma-quantum. The ordinary neutron decay was registered by double coincidences of beta electron and recoil proton. The ratio of triple to double coincidences is connected with relative intensity of radiative neutron decay (branching ratio -B.R.) B.R. = (3.2±1.6)·10 -3 (with 99.7 % C.L. and in the gamma energy region greater than 35 keV ), which we are the first in the world to measure during the second and third cycles on FRMII ( TUM, Germany ) in Summer 2005 [1]. This value of B.R. is consistent with standard electroweak theory.
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Papers by Douglas Rich