Title:
Fundamental Physics with Ultracold Neutrons at LANL, Past, Present and Future

Abstract:

Ultracold Neutrons (UCN) have been playing an important role in our
understanding of fundamental physics for over 30 years.  UCN are neutrons
with kinetic energies low enough that they can be trapped in material,
magnetic and gravitational traps, typically less that 300 neV.
Traditionally, UCN have been used to measure the lifetime and electric
dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron.  LANL is currently leading the
development of a new generation of neutron EDM experiments and building
its first neutron lifetime experiment.  Along with these standard UCN
measurements we have lead in the design, construction and running of the
first UCN experiment looking at the electronÕs decay correlation in
polarized neutron Beta decay (UCNA), an area traditionally restricted to
neutron beams.  To make this possible the worlds first solid deuterium UCN
source was built here.  In this talk I will present an overview of our
experimental UCN program and how it fits in with other UCN efforts around
the world.  The focus will be on our current UCNA experiment and the
building of the a new neutron lifetime experiment.