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Reviews of Modern Physics

Single- and double-slit diffraction of neutrons

Anton Zeilinger, R. Gähler, C. G. Shull, W. Treimer, Walter Mampe

Published Oct 1, 1988• 324 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.1103/revmodphys.60.1067

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The authors report detailed experiments and comparison with first-principle theoretical calculation of the diffraction of cold neutrons (\ensuremathλ\ensuremath≈2\ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\approx}2\ensuremathλ\ensuremath≈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.
A series of experiments is reviewed on precision measurements of the diffraction of slow neutrons paralleling those with light: diffraction at an absorbing edge, at an absorbing wire, and at single- and double-slit assemblies. Besides their educational value, the experimental results also provide precise confirmations of the theoretical predictions as calculated via a Fresnel–Kirchhoff approach. The intensity in all these experiments was so low that the formation of the interference patterns individual neutron by individual neutron could easily be observed. The experiments are presented and analyzed in a way suitable for undergraduate teaching.
Up to the present time, perfect crystal interferometers of both two‐crystal and three‐crystal Laue‐case variety have been used to explore the optical characteristics of neutrons of diffracting wavelength. In addition, very recently the classical optical experiments on the diffraction by an absorbing edge, by an absorbing wire and by single and double slit assemblies have been performed for cold neutrons. These experiments show with high precision the validity for matter waves of the standard Fresnel‐Kirchhoff approach to diffraction.
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.