Curvature effects in interferometry
The phase shift in interferometry due to the space-time curvature is computed in nonrelativistic and relativistic physics. This treatment is applied to an interferometer analogous to the perfect crystal interferometer used in the Colella-Overhauser-Werner experiment with thermal neutrons, an interferometer consisting of only horizontal mirrors, suitable for ultracold neutrons, and optical interferometry. Experiments are proposed to detect the effect of the tidal forces of the Earth, Moon, and the Sun, for the first time in interferometry. The phase shift in neutron interferometry due to terrestrial objects is considered and an experiment is proposed with superfluid helium as the source of gravity. This would provide, for the first time, direct evidence concerning the gravitational interaction between two quantum-mechanical states. The possibility of detecting purely general-relativistic effects due to curvature, by means of neutron interferometry, is also explored.
- Research Organization:
- Max Planck-Institut fuer Physik und Astrophysik, Werner Heisenberg-Institut fuer Physik, D-8000 Muenchen 40, Federal Republic of Germany
- OSTI ID:
- 6233220
- Journal Information:
- Phys. Rev. D; (United States), Vol. 30:8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Gravitational and rotational effects in quantum interference
New general relativistic effect by means of charged-particle interferometry
Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
GRAVITATIONAL INTERACTIONS
INTERFEROMETRY
THERMAL NEUTRONS
PHASE SHIFT
QUANTUM MECHANICS
RELATIVITY THEORY
SPACE-TIME
UNIVERSE
BARYONS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
FIELD THEORIES
GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY
HADRONS
INTERACTIONS
MECHANICS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
657003* - Theoretical & Mathematical Physics- Relativity & Gravitation
440103 - Radiation Instrumentation- Nuclear Spectroscopic Instrumentation