An Extremum Principle for a Neutron Diffraction Experiment

Hans Joachim Friedrich, Wulff D. Heintz

Harold Aspden

Anton Zeilinger, R. Gähler, C. G. Shull +2 more

The authors report detailed experiments and comparison with first-principle theoretical calculation of the diffraction of cold neutrons ($\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\approx}2$ nm) at single- and double-slit assemblies of dimensions in the 20-100 \ensuremath{\mu}m range. Their experimental results show all predicted features of the diffraction patterns in great detail. Particularly, their double-slit diffraction experiment is its most precise realization hitherto for matter waves.

Yan Wang

So far,the neutron diffraction have been approved in many experiments,and these experiments have been explained by different theories.In order to explain neutron single-slit diffraction more exactly,we apply a quantum mechanical approach to explain the neutron single-slit diffraction,and the calculation results are good agreement with experiment data.

Xiang-Yao Wu, Yang Jing-hai, Xiao-Jing Liu +4 more

Phenomena of electron, neutron, atomic and molecular diffraction have been studied in many experiments, and these experiments are explained by many theoretical works. We study neutron single-slit diffraction with a quantum mechanical approach. It is found that the obvious diffraction patterns can be obtained when the single-slit width a is in the range of 3λ~60λ. We also find a new quantum effect of the thickness of single-slit which can make a large impact on the diffraction pattern. The new quantum effect predicted in our work can be tested by the neutron single-slit diffraction experiment.

R.L. Brehm