Testing the Unitarity of the CKM Matrix with a Space-Based Neutron Decay Experiment

Simple item page
dc.creatorNieto, Michael Martin
dc.creatorFeldman, William C.
dc.creatorLawrence, David J.
dc.date2006-05-20
dc.date2008-05-15
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T11:58:45Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T11:58:45Z
dc.descriptionIf the Standard Model is correct, and fundamental fermions exist only in the three generations, then the CKM matrix should be unitary. However, there remains a question over a deviation from unitarity from the value of the neutron lifetime. We discuss a simple space-based experiment that, at an orbit height of 500 km above Earth, would measure the kinetic-energy, solid-angle, flux spectrum of gravitationally bound neutrons (kinetic energy K<0.606 eV at this altitude). The difference between the energy spectrum of neutrons that come up from the Earth's atmosphere and that of the undecayed neutrons that return back down to the Earth would yield a measurement of the neutron lifetime. This measurement would be free of the systematics of laboratory experiments. A package of mass $<25$ kg could provide a 10^{-3} precision in two years.
dc.description10 pages, 4 figures. Revised and updated for publication
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0605218
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/hep-ph/0605218
dc.identifierMod.Phys.Lett.A23:1735-1743,2008
dc.identifierdoi:10.1142/S0217732308027187
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/206333
dc.subjectHigh Energy Physics - Phenomenology
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleTesting the Unitarity of the CKM Matrix with a Space-Based Neutron Decay Experiment
dc.typetext

Files

Collections

arXiv