On Continuum-State and Bound-State Beta Decay Rates of the Neutron

Abstract

We analyse the continuum-state and bound-state beta^-decay rates of the neutron. For the calculation of theoretical values of the decay rates we use the new value for the axial coupling constant g_A = 1.2750(9), obtained recently by H. Abele (Progr. Part. Nucl. Phys., 60, 1 (2008)) from the fit of the experimental data on the neutron spin-electron correlation coefficient of the electron energy spectrum of the continuum-state beta^- decay of the neutron. We take into account the contribution of radiative corrections and the scalar and tensor weak couplings. We define correlation coefficients of the electron energy spectrum in terms of axial, scalar and tensor coupling constants. Using recent precise experimental data for the lifetime of the neutron and correlation coefficients we estimate the scalar and tensor weak coupling constants. The bound-state beta^- decay rates of the neutron we calculate as functions of axial, scalar and tensor weak coupling constants. We show that dominantly the neutron decays into hydrogen in the hyperfine states with total angular momentum F = 0. The calculated angular distributions of the probabilities of the bound-state beta^- decays of the polarised neutron can be used for the experimental measurements of the bound-state beta^- decays into the hyperfine states with a total angular momentum F = 1.

arXiv comment8 pages, 1 figure

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• The neutron and its role in cosmology and particle physics
• New physics searches in nuclear and neutron $\beta$ decay
• Neutron Beta-Decay as Laboratory for Test of Standard Model
• A New World Average Value for the Neutron Lifetime
• Neutron's Dark Secret
• Precision analysis of electron energy spectrum and angular distribution of neutron beta decay with polarized neutron and electron
• Neutron Dark Decay
• Proton Recoil Energy and Angular Distribution of Neutron Radiative Beta Decay
• Energy Level Displacement of Excited np State of Kaonic Deuterium In Faddeev Equation Approach
• The Bound-State Beta Decay of the Neutron Revisited