Observation of the Goos-Haenchen Shift with Neutrons

Journal Article · Fri Jan 08 04:00:00 EST 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.104.010401· OSTI ID:21386877

Haan, Victor-O de; Plomp, Jeroen; Rekveldt, Theo M; Kraan, Wicher H; Well, Ad A. van; Dalgliesh, Robert M; Langridge, Sean ^[1]

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1. Department Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft (Netherlands)

The Goos-Haenchen effect is a spatial shift along an interface resulting from an interference effect that occurs for total internal reflection. This phenomenon was suggested by Sir Isaac Newton, but it was not until 1947 that the effect was experimentally observed by Goos and Haenchen. We provide the first direct, absolute, experimental determination of the Goos-Haenchen shift for a particle experiencing a potential well as required by quantum mechanics: namely, wave-particle duality. Here, the particle is a spin-polarized neutron reflecting from a film of magnetized material. We detect the effect through a subtle change in polarization of the neutron. Here, we demonstrate, through experiment and theory, that neutrons do exhibit the Goos-Haenchen effect and postulate that the associated time shift should also be observable.

• OSTI ID: 21386877
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 104; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
BEAMS
DUALITY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INTERFERENCE
MECHANICS
NANOSTRUCTURES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
ORIENTATION
PARTICLES
POLARIZATION
POLARIZED BEAMS
POTENTIALS
QUANTUM MECHANICS
QUANTUM WELLS
REFLECTION
SPIN ORIENTATION
WAVE PROPAGATION