Monte Carlo simulations for the optimization and data analysis of experiments with ultracold neutrons

TL;DR

This paper discusses the use of Monte Carlo simulations to optimize ultracold neutron experiments, aiding in source enhancement, systematic effect estimation, and analysis benchmarking for fundamental physics research.

Contribution

It provides an overview of recent Monte Carlo simulation activities tailored for ultracold neutron experiments, highlighting their role in optimization and systematic analysis.

Findings

Monte Carlo simulations improve UCN source design.

Simulations assist in systematic effect estimation.

Benchmarking of analysis codes enhances experimental accuracy.

Abstract

Ultracold neutrons (UCN) with kinetic energies up to 300 neV can be stored in material or magnetic confinements for hundreds of seconds. This makes them a very useful tool for probing fundamental symmetries of nature, by searching for charge-parity violation by a neutron electric dipole moment, and yielding important parameters for Big Bang nucleosynthesis, e.g. in neutron-lifetime measurements. Further increasing the intensity of UCN sources is crucial for next-generation experiments. Advanced Monte Carlo (MC) simulation codes are important in optimization of neutron optics of UCN sources and of experiments, but also in estimation of systematic effects, and in bench-marking of analysis codes. Here we will give a short overview of recent MC simulation activities in this field.