Measurement of Neutron Lifetime and Purcell Effect

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential influence of the Purcell effect on neutron lifetime measurements, proposing an experimental protocol to detect it and discussing how different setups may cause measurement discrepancies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel idea that the Purcell effect could impact neutron lifetime experiments and provides a feasible method to detect this influence.

Findings

Purcell effect can be inferred from quantum electrodynamics principles.

Proposed experimental protocol can detect Purcell effect in neutron experiments.

Discrepancies in neutron lifetime measurements may stem from experimental setup differences.

Abstract

Purcell effect predicts that spontaneous radiation is not an intrinsic property of matter, but is affected by the environment in which it is located, and is the result of the interaction of matter and field. Purcell effect can be inferred from Fermi Gold rule through strict quantum electrodynamics (QED), and through it can achieve the enhancement or suppression of radiation. We suggest that, in principle, the Purcell effect can be detected at the percentage level of neutron decay in experiments with trapped ultra-cold neutrons. As a test of our claim, we propose a currently achievable experimental protocol that can detect whether Purcell effect has occurred in an trapped ultra-cold neutron lifetime measurement experiment. Finally, we discuss the discrepancy in current methods of measuring neutron lifetime, which may be caused by different experimental setups.