Electron time-of-flight: A new tool in β -decay spectroscopy

Abstract

The authors demonstrate an enhanced electron time-of-flight (ToF) method that overcomes limitations of conventional ToF experiments. They use an inverse magnetic mirror configuration in which the ToF is almost independent of emission angle. In particular at lower $\ensuremath{\beta}$-decay energies, where flight times are long, one can obtain the electron kinetic energy with significantly improved accuracy. Applications range from the precise calibration of energy-sensitive scintillators to future neutron-decay experiments.