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Physical Review Letters

Observation of the Phase Shift of a Neutron Due to Precession in a Magnetic Field

S. A. Werner, R. Colella, A. W. Overhauser, Charles Frederick Eagen

Published Oct 20, 1975• 313 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have directly observed the sign reversal of the wave function of a fermion produced by its precession of 2π radians in a magnetic field using a neutron interferometer.Received 27 August 1975DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.35.1053©1975 American Physical Society

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.35.1053

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We have directly observed the sign reversal of the wave function of a fermion produced by its precession of 2π radians in a magnetic field using a neutron interferometer.Received 27 August 1975DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.35.1053©1975 American Physical Society
If a spin-½ particle is placed in a constant uniform magnetic field for a time t during which, classically, the Larmor precession angle would be θ, then according to quantum mechanics the components of the spin part of the wave function undergo phase changes of ±θ/2. Hence, corresponding to a classical precession of 2π radians, there is a sign change of the spinor, whatever the initial polarization may be. Bernstein pointed out that this sign change can be observed by coherently splitting a fermion beam, subjecting one part to the magnetic field, and coherently recombining the parts. Evidently, the same interference effect can be achieved by subjecting the two parts of the beam to fields which would classically cause precessions of π radians in opposite senses. He noted advantages in studying neutral rather than charged particles, and outlined a proposal for an interferometry experiment with neutrons. The recent invention and application of a remarkable single-crystal neutron interferometer greatly increases the feasibility of observing the sign change. In the experiment of Ref. 3 a neutron beam is split, and the two parts follow paths of different elevations. The interference of the recombined parts exhibits the effect of gravitational potential difference between the two elevations. In the experiment which we propose, the paths could be kept at the same elevation, but phase differences would be produced by appropriate magnetic fields.