An experiment to measure lambda = G(A)/G(V) from a combination of angular correlation coefficients in the beta decay of polarized neutrons

A technique is described which allows us to measure the ratio lambda = G(A) /G(V) of the weak axial-vector and vector coupling constants in neutron dec ay without any measurement of the neutron beam polarization. lambda is dete rmined from a combination of the parity-odd angular correlations <(sigma)ov er right arrow>.<(P-e)over right arrow> and <(sigma)over right arrow>.<(P-v )over right arrow> between the neutron spin <(sigma)over right arrow> and t he electron momentum <(P-e)over right arrow> and the anti-neutrino momentum <(P-v)over right arrow>, respectively, both of which are measured in a sin gle experiment using the same neutron beam. A description of the experiment and the results of the first run at the cold neutron beam facility at the Institut Laue-Langevin are presented. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.