2210341
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Probing TeV Physics with NeV Neutrons: Precision Measurements of Beta Decays and Electric Dipole Moments
The research activities supported by this award are driven by the desire to answer the fundamental question, what are the properties of the early universe? It is known that hydrogen, helium, and lithium were produced shortly after the Big Bang. However, theoretical predictions of the amount of helium resulting from the Big Bang are highly dependent on the lifetime of the free neutron.
Recent experiments using what is called the "bottle technique" have reached record-breaking precision. Measurements using a different technique differ from the bottle measurements by a surprising amount. With support from this award, this PI will lead a new measurement of the neutron's lifetime by measuring beam neutrons decaying in flight.
Another decay experiment using tritium provides a promising way to determine the absolute mass of the nearly-weightless neutrinos. This project precisely measures the cyclotron motion of the electrons emitted when the tritium undergoes beta decay. This provides another key element of Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Finally, to understand why the Big Bang left the universe with a surplus of matter over antimatter that we observe today, laboratory experiments are in progress to search for a crucial clue: an extremely small separation of the positive and negative electric charges within the neutron.
Students with broad backgrounds will be mentored in scientific and technical skills while participating in these research activities. In particular, high school students from less affluent communities surrounding Los Alamos are invited to participate in summer physics camps.
The PIs, in the Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will carry out these research activities in experimental neutron physics and fundamental symmetry tests. The work includes:
(1) Continuation of the UCNTAU experiment data-taking and analysis, and in parallel, developing the UCNTAU+ upgrade to push the neutron lifetime precision towards 0.1 s.
(2) Collaboration on the beam-lifetime experiment, by constructing the alpha-gamma neutron calibration device, in order to work towards resolving the outstanding 10-second discrepancy between the values of the neutron lifetime measured using the beam and bottle methods.
(3) Application of the magneto-gravitational trap, successfully used in the UCNTAU experiment, to trap tritium atoms in large numbers in preparation for the measurement of the absolute mass of the neutrino in the Project-8 experiment.
(4) Preparation of the Neutron Electric Dipole Moment (NEDM) experiment at LANL to start data-taking in 2023, and continuing construction of the polarized helium-3 system for the NEDM experiment at the Oak Ridge Spallation Neutron Source.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
The research activities supported by this award are driven by the desire to answer the fundamental question, what are the properties of the early universe? It is known that hydrogen, helium, and lithium were produced shortly after the Big Bang. However, theoretical predictions of the amount of helium resulting from the Big Bang are highly dependent on the lifetime of the free neutron.
Recent experiments using what is called the "bottle technique" have reached record-breaking precision. Measurements using a different technique differ from the bottle measurements by a surprising amount. With support from this award, this PI will lead a new measurement of the neutron's lifetime by measuring beam neutrons decaying in flight.
Another decay experiment using tritium provides a promising way to determine the absolute mass of the nearly-weightless neutrinos. This project precisely measures the cyclotron motion of the electrons emitted when the tritium undergoes beta decay. This provides another key element of Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Finally, to understand why the Big Bang left the universe with a surplus of matter over antimatter that we observe today, laboratory experiments are in progress to search for a crucial clue: an extremely small separation of the positive and negative electric charges within the neutron.
Students with broad backgrounds will be mentored in scientific and technical skills while participating in these research activities. In particular, high school students from less affluent communities surrounding Los Alamos are invited to participate in summer physics camps.
The PIs, in the Nuclear Physics Group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will carry out these research activities in experimental neutron physics and fundamental symmetry tests. The work includes:
(1) Continuation of the UCNTAU experiment data-taking and analysis, and in parallel, developing the UCNTAU+ upgrade to push the neutron lifetime precision towards 0.1 s.
(2) Collaboration on the beam-lifetime experiment, by constructing the alpha-gamma neutron calibration device, in order to work towards resolving the outstanding 10-second discrepancy between the values of the neutron lifetime measured using the beam and bottle methods.
(3) Application of the magneto-gravitational trap, successfully used in the UCNTAU experiment, to trap tritium atoms in large numbers in preparation for the measurement of the absolute mass of the neutrino in the Project-8 experiment.
(4) Preparation of the Neutron Electric Dipole Moment (NEDM) experiment at LANL to start data-taking in 2023, and continuing construction of the polarized helium-3 system for the NEDM experiment at the Oak Ridge Spallation Neutron Source.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "DIVISION OF PHYSICS: INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH PROJECTS", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF21593
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Urbana,
Illinois
61801-3620
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 183% from $1,079,069 to $3,049,661.
University Of Illinois was awarded
TeV Physics Exploration: Neutron Beta Decays & Electric Dipole Moments
Project Grant 2210341
worth $3,049,661
from the Division of Physics in August 2022 with work to be completed primarily in Urbana Illinois United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects.
Status
(Complete)
Last Modified 8/27/24
Period of Performance
8/15/22
Start Date
7/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$3.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to 2210341
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2210341
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
490301 DIVISION OF PHYSICS
Funding Office
490301 DIVISION OF PHYSICS
Awardee UEI
Y8CWNJRCNN91
Awardee CAGE
4B808
Performance District
IL-13
Senators
Richard Durbin
Tammy Duckworth
Tammy Duckworth
Budget Funding
| Federal Account | Budget Subfunction | Object Class | Total | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research and Related Activities, National Science Foundation (049-0100) | General science and basic research | Grants, subsidies, and contributions (41.0) | $2,227,313 | 100% |
Modified: 8/27/24