Neutron multiwave interference phenomena based on Ramsey's resonance method of "separated oscillating fields" are studied. The neutron passes through N successive resonant coils (with DC field B0) which flip the neutron spin with a probability ρ (written as ρ = sin2ξ) smaller than 1. These coils are separated by path lengths l over which a homogeneous field B1 is present. Because the spin-flip probability ρ is smaller than 1, the number of states is doubled after each flipper, so as to produce 2N neutron waves at the end of the set-up. The phase difference between any pair of waves is a multiple of a "phase quantum" equaled to the line integral over length l of the field difference B1 - B0. Highly regular patterns of the quantum mechanical probability R in (B1,ξ)-space appear due to pair interference between individual waves.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)243-246
Number of pages4
JournalPhysica B: Condensed Matter
Volume335
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2003
EventProceedings of the Fourth International Workshop on PNCMI 2002 - Julich, Germany
Duration: 16 Sep 200219 Sep 2002

    Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

    Research areas

  • Neutron multiwave interference

ID: 86435235