Characterization of Silicon Detectors at the Manitoba Proton Source for Low-Energy Particle Physics

The Neutron-a-b (Nab) experiment hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Spallation Neutron Source is a sensitive probe of the weak interaction via free neutron beta decay. With a goal of 1.2⋅10^-3 relative precision on a and 3⋅10^-3 precision on b, this experiment will speak to the discrepancies in λ, the ratio of axial-vector to vector coupling, and the unitarity of the CKM matrix via a determination of Vud. Energy and timing of the decay electrons and protons are quantified with a pair of large-area, thick, segmented silicon detectors. The low–energy steerable proton source located at the University of Manitoba was used to simulate neutron decay protons, in tandem with some low-energy X-ray and beta sources. This talk will overview the capabilities of the facility, and the various studies performed to determine optimal detector running conditions within the Nab experiment.