Creating the Electric and Magnetic Fields for the nEDM@SNS Experiment

Author: Blatnik, Marie Ann

Year: 2024

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Filippone, Bradley W.

Committee Members: Hutzler, Nicholas R.; Wise, Mark B.; Porter, Frank C.; Holt, Roy J.; Filippone, Bradley W.

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/7a0n-va47

Abstract

The neutron’s electric dipole moment (nEDM) remains one of the most important quantities to measure due to its sensitivity to new sources of CP violation. The nEDM@SNS Collaboration aims to improve this measurement by 2 orders of magnitude by using a novel measurement technique. This thesis focuses on two of the key challenges that this ambitious experiment must address, electrostatically and magnetostatically, respectively: the production of high voltage for the nEDM measurement using a Cavallo multiplier, and the magnetic environment created for the polarization and transmission of the cold neutron beam through the many nested components of the experimental apparatus. A series of Cavallo prototypes is developed, including a room-temperature apparatus and a cryogenic apparatus with two sets of electrodes. The created high voltage will be monitored without physical contact using a designed and prototyped field mill. Transmission and polarization measurements of the cold neutron beam through the nested components of the experimental apparatus are discussed.

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