A note on the ultracold neutrons production by neutron deceleration on clusters in liquid helium

TL;DR

This paper evaluates how nanoclusters in liquid helium affect ultracold neutron production, showing that van der Waals binding suppresses neutron deceleration, which is crucial for optimizing ultracold neutron sources.

Contribution

It provides an analysis of neutron deceleration mechanisms involving nanoclusters in liquid helium, highlighting the suppressive effect of van der Waals binding on the process.

Findings

Neutron deceleration is strongly suppressed when clusters are bound by van der Waals forces.

The interaction with nanoclusters significantly influences ultracold neutron production.

Van der Waals binding reduces the efficiency of neutron slowing in liquid helium.

Abstract

An evaluation of slow neutrons deceleration through their interaction with nanoclusters in liquid helium is performed. It is shown that process is strongly suppresed if the clusters are bound by the van der Waals interaction.