Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Physics Conference Series

Gravitational and centrifugal quantum states of neutrons

Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

Published Jul 8, 2011• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Two related physical phenomena have recently been observed: quantum states of neutrons in the gravitational field above a flat mirror, and quantum states of neutrons in an effective centrifugal potential in the vicinity of a concave mirror. It is curious that the measurement of the near-surface quantum states of these two types is the first direct demonstration of the weak equivalence principle for a massive object in a quantum state. These two phenomena and their application to various domains of science will be explored using a new GRANIT spectrometer, which is under commissioning in the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. Most recent advances in these domains are mentioned.

DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/306/1/012003

Related papers

Quantum states of neutrons in the gravitational and centrifugal potentials in a new GRANIT spectrometer

Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

<!--HTML-->We will discuss the scientific program to be studied in a new gravitational spectrometer GRANIT in a broad context of quantum states (quantum behaviour) of ultracold neutrons (UCN) in gravitational [1] and centrifugal [2] potentials, as well as applications of these phenomena/spectrometer to various domains of physics, ranging from studies of fundamental short-range interactions and symmetries to neutron quantum optics and reflectometry using UCN. All these topics, as well as related instrumental and methodical developments have been discussed during dedicated GRANIT-2010 Workshop [3]. The GRANIT spectrometer has been recently installed at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France [4] and could become operational in near future. 1. V.V. Nesvizhevsky et al (2002), Nature 415, 297. 2. V.V. Nesvizhevsky et al (2010), Nature Physics 6, 114. 3. GRANIT-2010, Les Houches, 14-19 february 2010. 4. M. Kreuz et al (2009), NIM 611, 326.

•Jan 1, 2010•0 citations

Near-surface quantum states of neutrons in the gravitational and centrifugal potentials

Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

Two related physical phenomena have recently been observed: quantum states of ultracold neutrons (UCN) in the gravitational field above a flat mirror, and quantum states of cold neutrons (CN) in an effective centrifugal potential in the vicinity of a concave mirror. The two phenomena are similar in terms of their associated experimental methods and mathematical representations as well as in terms of their applications in particle physics, quantum optics, and surface physics.

Physics-Uspekhi•Oct 11, 2010•44 citations

GRAVITATIONAL QUANTUM STATES OF NEUTRONS AND THE NEW GRANIT SPECTROMETER

Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

The review covers recent developments on gravitational quantum states of neutrons and the new GRANIT spectrometer, discussed during the Workshop GRANIT-2010 in Les Houches.1The GRANIT facility2includes the spectrometer and the infrastructure needed for its operation. It is constructed at Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)3in Grenoble for studies of/with gravitational quantum states of neutrons, and for related topics. New methodical developments4are discussed for future upgrades of this facility. An important motivation for this activity consists in constraining fundamental short-range forces.5Other quantum phenomena in gravitational field,6and centrifugal quantum states of neutrons,7were discussed as well. A detailed presentation of all these topics could be found in Workshop-2010 presentations.8We will focus here on instrumental developments and on options for studying neutron gravitational states.

Modern Physics Letters A•Jan 20, 2012•11 citations

Neutrons and gravity

Валерий Викторович Несвижевский

Neutrons not only fall classically in the gravitational field of the Earth as potatoes and other normal objects do; at certain conditions, they reveal quantum behavior, or even form well­ defined gravitational quantum states. Due to the relative simplicity of quantum mechanical rules for solving this problem, we could predict analytically the motion of a neutron in a grav­ itational field in the vicinity of a reflecting surface. Such a bouncing neutron can have only certain, discrete values of energy. These extremely small energy values turn out to be very sensitive probes to the presence of even tiny extra interactions, in particular those between the neutron and the mirror. Moreover, several emerging fields of research profit from experi­ ence and knowledge gained in the recent experimental observation of gravitational quantum states of ultracold neutrons, and extend the developed methods to atoms and anti-atoms, to whispering-gallery effect and other domains, thus providing more and more application for the method. Quantum bouncing particles could play their role in quantum tests of the equivalence principle, in explorations of gravitational properties of antimatter, in searching for new funda­ mental short-range and other interactions beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, in surface and thin-layer physics, in chemistry, and so on. In this short note we mention results of a few previous years and project nearest developments ..

•Jan 1, 2015•0 citations

On observation of neutron quantum states in Earth gravitational field at Laue-Langevin Institute, Grenoble

Anatoli Vankov

The experiment performed with ultra-cold neutrons at the Laue-Langevin Institute, Grenoble, is analyzed in view of the claim that ``neutron quantum states in Earth gravitational field'' are observed. Our conclusion is that the above claim is neither theoretically nor experimentally substantiated. We also criticize the statement that ``observation of the gravitationally bound quantum states of neutrons and the related experimental techniques provide a unique tool for a broad range of investigations in fundamental physics of particles and fields''.

arXiv:0808.1362•Aug 9, 2008•0 citations

The GRANIT spectrometer

S. Baeßler, Mathieu Beau, Michael Kreuz +6 more

The existence of quantum states of matter in a gravitational field was demonstrated recently in the Institut Laue–Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, in a series of experiments with ultra cold neutrons (UCN). UCN in low quantum states is an excellent probe for fundamental physics, in particular for constraining extra short-range forces; as well as a tool in quantum optics and surface physics. The GRANIT is a follow-up project based on a second-generation spectrometer with ultra-high energy resolution, permanently installed in ILL. It has been constructed in framework of an ANR grant; and will become operational in 2011.

Comptes Rendus Physique•Aug 4, 2011•28 citations
Two related physical phenomena have recently been observed: quantum states of neutrons in the gravitational field above a flat mirror, and quantum states of neutrons in an effective centrifugal potential in the vicinity of a concave mirror. It is curious that the measurement of the near-surface quantum states of these two types is the first direct demonstration of the weak equivalence principle for a massive object in a quantum state. These two phenomena and their application to various domains of science will be explored using a new GRANIT spectrometer, which is under commissioning in the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France. Most recent advances in these domains are mentioned.
<!--HTML-->We will discuss the scientific program to be studied in a new gravitational spectrometer GRANIT in a broad context of quantum states (quantum behaviour) of ultracold neutrons (UCN) in gravitational [1] and centrifugal [2] potentials, as well as applications of these phenomena/spectrometer to various domains of physics, ranging from studies of fundamental short-range interactions and symmetries to neutron quantum optics and reflectometry using UCN. All these topics, as well as related instrumental and methodical developments have been discussed during dedicated GRANIT-2010 Workshop [3]. The GRANIT spectrometer has been recently installed at the Institut Laue-Langevin, Grenoble, France [4] and could become operational in near future. 1. V.V. Nesvizhevsky et al (2002), Nature 415, 297. 2. V.V. Nesvizhevsky et al (2010), Nature Physics 6, 114. 3. GRANIT-2010, Les Houches, 14-19 february 2010. 4. M. Kreuz et al (2009), NIM 611, 326.
The review covers recent developments on gravitational quantum states of neutrons and the new GRANIT spectrometer, discussed during the Workshop GRANIT-2010 in Les Houches.1The GRANIT facility2includes the spectrometer and the infrastructure needed for its operation. It is constructed at Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)3in Grenoble for studies of/with gravitational quantum states of neutrons, and for related topics. New methodical developments4are discussed for future upgrades of this facility. An important motivation for this activity consists in constraining fundamental short-range forces.5Other quantum phenomena in gravitational field,6and centrifugal quantum states of neutrons,7were discussed as well. A detailed presentation of all these topics could be found in Workshop-2010 presentations.8We will focus here on instrumental developments and on options for studying neutron gravitational states.
Neutrons not only fall classically in the gravitational field of the Earth as potatoes and other normal objects do; at certain conditions, they reveal quantum behavior, or even form well­ defined gravitational quantum states. Due to the relative simplicity of quantum mechanical rules for solving this problem, we could predict analytically the motion of a neutron in a grav­ itational field in the vicinity of a reflecting surface. Such a bouncing neutron can have only certain, discrete values of energy. These extremely small energy values turn out to be very sensitive probes to the presence of even tiny extra interactions, in particular those between the neutron and the mirror. Moreover, several emerging fields of research profit from experi­ ence and knowledge gained in the recent experimental observation of gravitational quantum states of ultracold neutrons, and extend the developed methods to atoms and anti-atoms, to whispering-gallery effect and other domains, thus providing more and more application for the method. Quantum bouncing particles could play their role in quantum tests of the equivalence principle, in explorations of gravitational properties of antimatter, in searching for new funda­ mental short-range and other interactions beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, in surface and thin-layer physics, in chemistry, and so on. In this short note we mention results of a few previous years and project nearest developments ..
The experiment performed with ultra-cold neutrons at the Laue-Langevin Institute, Grenoble, is analyzed in view of the claim that ``neutron quantum states in Earth gravitational field'' are observed. Our conclusion is that the above claim is neither theoretically nor experimentally substantiated. We also criticize the statement that ``observation of the gravitationally bound quantum states of neutrons and the related experimental techniques provide a unique tool for a broad range of investigations in fundamental physics of particles and fields''.
The existence of quantum states of matter in a gravitational field was demonstrated recently in the Institut Laue–Langevin (ILL), Grenoble, in a series of experiments with ultra cold neutrons (UCN). UCN in low quantum states is an excellent probe for fundamental physics, in particular for constraining extra short-range forces; as well as a tool in quantum optics and surface physics. The GRANIT is a follow-up project based on a second-generation spectrometer with ultra-high energy resolution, permanently installed in ILL. It has been constructed in framework of an ANR grant; and will become operational in 2011.