Quantum Structure of Neutron Beams and Possibilities for Establishing It Experimentally

David V. Baxter, C. Broholm, Abu Ashik Irfan +6 more

Stephen J. Kuhn, Samuel McKay, David V. Baxter +9 more

Dmitry A. Pushin, Dusan Sarenac, J. Nsofini +7 more

Neutrons are important probes of mater and quantum physics. They are particularly powerful at characterizing magnetic structures. In order to extend the applications of neutron physics as a quantum probes/sensors we have developed methods based on Quantum Information Processing for preparing structured waves such as orbital and spin-orbit states of neutrons. Such states may be prepared for the beam as a whole, or with reference to the coherence length of the neutron wavepacket, which is much smaller than the width of useful beams. I will describe experiments to prepare and characterize neutron beams with specific orbital and spin-orbit structure based on neutron interferometry and will show how we can apply these methods to other type of probes such as light.

Helmut Rauch

Aleksandr I Frank

The Goos-Hanchen effect, a longitudinal shift of a wave beam at total inner reflection, is a well-known optical phenomenon. It was discovered in 1947 and have been observed many times at reflection of micro- and ultrasonic waves since then. Here we present an elementary theory of the GH. effect to describe reflection of a massive particle and demonstrate how the shift is related to delay time at reflection. It is shown that giant positive or negative longitudinal shifts of the neutron beam may occur at neutron reflection from some specially manufactured planar system. The possibility of delay time measurement at neutron reflection and direct experimental observation of the GH shift are also discussed.

Helmut Rauch, Dipankar Home, Guruprasad Kar +1 more