Neutron

 Interferometry

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NIST  Center  for  Neutron  Research
Home  to  a  20  MW  reactor  that  provides  neutrons  for  scien>fic  
research
Dozens  of  instruments  (most  for  Solid  State  applica>ons)
Some  instruments  for  the  study  of  Fundamental  Physics    
Public domain image

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The Neutron Interferometer and Optics Facility

Public domain image

Isolated 40,000 Kg room is supported by six airsprings

Active Vibration Control eliminates vibrations less than 10Hz
Temperature Controlled to +/- 5 mK 3
 Inside  the  NCNR
Reactor Core

Fuel Elements
LH2

Guide  Hall  

7 Neutron
Guides

NIOF
Public domain images
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 Wavepacket
Neutron coming out of the reactor is a wavepacket:
Sum of many plane waves with different wavenumber k
[not a stationary state: evolves (moves!) in time]

p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p 7p 8p 9p 10 p
x

Fourier Transform Pair

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
k
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 Monochromator

Monochromator selects a small range of momenta

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 Wavepacket

p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p 7p 8p 9p 10 p
x

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
k

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 Neutron Interferometer
3-blade interferometer from single Si crystal

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5-blade interferometer from single Si crystal

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 Wavepacket ➙ Plane wave

p 2p 3p 4p 5p 6p 7p 8p 9p 10 p
x

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Wavepacket ∆x ≫ Interferometer ➞ consider ∆x =∞

1 ikx
or neutron = plane wave |ki = 'k (x) = p e
2⇡ 10
 Momentum eigenfunctions

|-ki

|ki
|ki

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We can analyze the neutron interferometer

looking only at the momentum eigenfunctions:
STATIONARY SOLUTION (no time evolution)
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 Interference
(Calculations: 1)

| (0)i = |ki

The neutron is a plain wave with k>0. The first blade is a

beam splitter (50/50% probability of going up or down)
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 Interference
(Calculations: 2)

1
| 1 i = p (|ki + |-ki)
2

t1
After the first blade, the state is a superposition.
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 Interference
(Calculations: 3)
1
| 2 i = p (|-ki + |ki)
2

t2
The second blade is a mirror, exchanging neutrons
with positive and negative k
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 Interference
(Calculations: 4)
1 i'
| 3 i = p (e |-ki + |ki)
2

t3
Neutrons in the upper path (with negative
momentum) go through the phase flag (an object)
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 Interference
(Calculations: 5)

' | i = cos ' |ki + sin ' |-ki

The third blade recombines the beams and allows

them to interfere.
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 Interference
'
Detector

P (+k) = cos2 (')

The detector measure the neutron flux intensity

(number of neutrons per unit time).
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Interference

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 Flux of particles
• Plane wave wavefunction (x) = Aeikx is
not properly normalized

• It is difficult to interpret as | (x)| 2

as the
probability of finding a particle at position x.

• Interpret v| (x)|2 = I as a flux of particles

r
mI
set A=
~k 19
Scattering
of Waves and Particles

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 Transmission

Energy > Potential Step

E=T+V ➜ mv02/2 > mgH

Region I 21
Region II
 Transmission

Energy > Potential Step

E=T+V ➜ mv02/2 > mgH

Region I 22
Region II
 Reflection

Energy < Potential Step

E=T+V ➜ mv02/2 < mgH

Region I 23
Region II
 Reflection

Energy < Potential Step

E=T+V ➜ mv02/2 < mgH

Region I 24
Region II
 Reflection/Transmission
ikx ikx
Reflected wave e Transmitted wave e

ikx
Incoming wave e
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 Reflection/Transmission
ikx ikx
Reflected wave e Transmitted wave e

ikx
Incoming wave e
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MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu

22.02 Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics

Spring 2012

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu

22.02 Introduction to Applied Nuclear Physics

Spring 2012

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.