The Design and Development of the BL3 Neutron Lifetime Experiment

The BL3 collaboration is currently constructing the next-generation beam-based neutron lifetime experiment with the goals of exhaustively studying systematics by achieving ∼1 s statistical precision within 1 day and improving the overall precision of the neutron beam lifetime measurement to ≤0.3 s. This approach combines the absolute measurement of neutron beam flux with the absolute measurement of the number of beta-decay protons produced within the volume of a quasi-Penning trap. In this talk, the beam-based measurement methodology will be summarized, and the design and expected performance of the experimental subsystems of the BL3 experiment will be outlined. Finally, the current status of the development and testing of the BL3 apparatus will be presented.