Low temperature and neutron physics studies. Progress report, May 1979-May 1980

Technical Report · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6779277· OSTI ID:6779277

Experimental research work with the neutron diffraction spectrometers at the MIT Research Reactor has concentrated during the past year on (a) dynamical diffraction effects in perfect crystals, (b) exploitation of a neutron interferometer system in studying various fundamental physics problems and (c) studies of the Fresnel diffraction patterns produced by simple slit systems. It has been found that neutrons in the process of being diffracted in an extended crystal travel with an anomalous drift velocity smaller than the normal group velocity. Moreover the transmission of these drift neutrons through the crystal has been established as being anomalously high analogously to the anomalous Borrman transmission of x-rays. A two-crystal interferometer system has been used to search for the existence of a Shimony phase effect that would arise from the presence of additional nonlinear energy terms in the Schrodinger equation. No phase effects were found and an upper limit of 3 x 10-/sup 13/ eV has been set for the magnitude of such terms. The interferometer has also been used to search for a possible coupling of the neutron magnetic structure with a vector magnetic potential and again no phase effect was measurable. Preliminary experiments on the effect of interferometer rotation while the neutrons are in transit have shown that the normal effects caused by terrestrial rotation can be modified or suppressed. Additional research has been carried out at Institut Laue-Langevin (Grenoble) in which single (and multiple) slit Fresnel diffraction patterns are being studied in a search for nonlinear optical effects.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Dept. of Physics
• DOE Contract Number: AS02-76ER3342
• OSTI ID: 6779277
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/03342-8; TRN: 81-000672
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
CRYSTAL LATTICES
NEUTRON DIFFRACTION
INTERFEROMETRY
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
PHASE STUDIES
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIFFRACTION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SCATTERING
654003* - Radiation & Shielding Physics- Neutron Interactions with Matter
656000 - Condensed Matter Physics