Scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect with longitudinally polarized neutrons
- School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia 3052 (Australia)
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831 (United States)
- Physics Department, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65211 (United States)
In the scalar Aharonov-Bohm effect, a charged particle (electron) interacts with the scalar electrostatic potential U in the field-free (i.e., force-free) region inside an electrostatic cylinder (Faraday cage). Using a perfect single-crystal neutron interferometer we have performed a ''dual'' scalar Aharonov-Bohm experiment by subjecting polarized thermal neutrons to a pulsed magnetic field. The pulsed magnetic field was spatially uniform, precluding any force on the neutrons. Aligning the direction of the pulsed magnetic field to the neutron magnetic moment also rules out any classical torque acting to change the neutron polarization. The observed phase shift is purely quantum mechanical in origin. A detailed description of the experiment, performed at the University of Missouri Research Reactor, and its interpretation is given in this paper. (c) 1999 The American Physical Society.
- OSTI ID:
- 20217923
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. A, Vol. 60, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1999; ISSN 1050-2947
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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