Quantum Optical Neutron Beam Tailoring

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Rauch, H.

Affiliations: Atominstitut der Österreichischen Universitäten, A-1020 Wien, Austria

Abstract: Perfect crystal neutron interferometry has provided the basis for the realization of many basic experiments for testing quantum mechanics with massive particles. The following quantum effects have been verified: 4π-symmetry of spinors, spin-superposition, gravity-induced quantum interference effects, the Aharonov-Casher effect, the magnetic Josephson effects, the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect etc. More recently, steps towards neutron quantum optics have been undertaken. Measurements have dealt with the coherence properties of the neutron beam, the photon exchange between the neutron and various electromagnetic fields, the particle number-phase uncertainty, squeezing phenomena, and the Wigner-functional behavior of a neutron system. These achievements opened the field of direct Fourier spectroscopy which brings a direct access to the space and time dependent correlation functions which describe condensed matter. Various perspectives for further experiments in the field of fundamental and condensed matter physics are discussed.

DOI: 10.1080/10238169608200079

Journal: Journal of Neutron Research, vol. 4, no. 1-4, pp. 149-156, 1996