An Update on the BL2 In-Beam Neutron Lifetime Experiment and Discussion of Systematic Effects

Neutron beta decay is the simplest example of nuclear beta decay and is important to our understanding of weak processes, the unitarity of the CKM matrix in the Standard Model, Big Bang Nucleosynthesis models, solar physics, and the detection of reactor antineutrinos. The BL2 in-beam neutron lifetime experiment seeks to address a current discrepancy between the result of a previous NIST beam-based neutron lifetime experiment and recent ultra-cold neutron bottle lifetime experiments through careful study of possible systematic effects. This talk will address key systematic effects relevant to both the previous NIST beam lifetime experiment and BL2. An update on the status and outlook of the BL2 experiment will also be presented.