Measurement of the beta-nu correlation using magneto-optically trapped 21Na

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Sep 3;93(10):102501. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.102501. Epub 2004 Aug 30.

Abstract

The beta-neutrino correlation coefficient, a(betanu), in 21Na is inferred from detecting the beta(+) and low-energy recoil daughter nucleus. 21Na is produced at the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and 800 000 atoms are maintained in a magneto-optical trap. From the measured time of flight of recoil ions in the presence of a drift electric field, we find a(betanu)=0.5243+/-0.0091. There may be a dependence on the trapped atom population. This and other systematic uncertainties are discussed.