Detector Characterization and Data Acquisition System Development for the “Nab” Neutron Beta Decay Experiment

The Nab neutron decay correlation experiment will measure the electron-neutrino correlation coefficient “a” and by extension test the unitarity of the CKM matrix. This coefficient will be determined through measurements of coincident protons and electrons on a pair of 127-pixel silicon detectors. In order to understand the response of the detectors to protons, the detector behavior will be tested with a 30keV proton beam at the University of Manitoba. These tests will be examining a variety of detector response features including charge sharing between pixels and the effect of radially dependent depletion voltages. In order to facilitate these tests, a new data acquisition system has been developed. This presentation will discuss the goals of the proton beam tests as well as the design of the new data acquisition system.