FINESSE: A Versatile Beamline for Fundamental Interactions with Neutrons at the European Spallation SourcE

Abstract

FINESSE (A Versatile Beamline for \textbf{F}undamental \textbf{I}nteractions with \textbf{N}eutrons at the \textbf{E}uropean \textbf{S}pallation \textbf{S}ourc\textbf{E}) is a proposed versatile beamline for fundamental interactions with neutrons at the European Spallation Source. Building on the HIBEAM design studies, FINESSE extends the original concept into a dual-guide beamline capable of operating either in a high-flux configuration or in a low-background configuration within a single ESS beam port. The high-flux branch is optimized for rare-process searches, including neutron--antineutron oscillations, neutron--sterile-neutron transitions, axion-like-particle searches, neutron charge measurements, and rare neutron decays. The low-background branch is designed for precision measurements requiring strong suppression of prompt and line-of-sight backgrounds, with a cryogenic neutron electric-dipole-moment experiment used as a benchmark case. A baseline exchangeable-guide concept has been developed in which only short guide sections inside the ESS bunker are exchanged, while the upstream extraction system and chopper positions remain fixed. A staged implementation, Short FINESSE, would use the upstream section of the high-flux beamline together with a compact magnetically controlled experimental region, enabling an early physics and R\&D programme before completion of the full facility. This paper summarizes the scientific case, beamline concept, guide simulations, chopper and timing system, magnetic-field control, detector developments, and staged implementation strategy. FINESSE would establish a long-term particle-physics infrastructure at ESS, providing a beamline for both discovery-driven searches and precision neutron measurements throughout the lifetime of the facility.