DOE PAGES title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Quantum information approach to the implementation of a neutron cavity

Journal Article · · New Journal of Physics

Abstract Using the quantum information model of dynamical diffraction we consider a neutron cavity composed of two perfect crystal silicon blades capable of containing the neutron wavefunction. We show that the internal confinement of the neutrons through Bragg diffraction can be modelled by a quantum random walk. Furthermore, we introduce a toolbox for modelling crystal imperfections such as surface roughness and defects. Good agreement is found between the simulation and the experimental implementation, where leakage beams are present, modelling of which is impractical with the conventional theory of dynamical diffraction. Analysis of the standing neutron waves is presented in regards to the crystal geometry and parameters; and the conditions required for well-defined bounces are derived. The presented results enable new approaches to studying the setups utilizing neutron confinement, such as the experiments to measure neutron magnetic and electric dipole moments.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1992963
Journal Information:
New Journal of Physics, Journal Name: New Journal of Physics Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 25; ISSN 1367-2630
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

References (27)

Performance of an improved perfect crystal neutron storage cavity
  • Jericha, E.; Carlile, C. J.; Rauch, H.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 379, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(96)00481-0
journal September 1996
Test of a single crystal neutron interferometer journal April 1974
Verification of coherent spinor rotation of fermions journal October 1975
Test of a perfect crystal neutron storage device journal March 1990
On Bragg interferometry journal January 1989
Neutron beam tailoring by accumulation between perfect crystal mirrors journal June 2000
Quantum Zeno-effect with polarized neutrons journal March 2001
Cold neutron storage by perfect crystals journal June 1997
New developments in cold neutron storage with perfect crystals
  • Jaekel, M. R.; Jericha, E.; Rauch, H.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 539, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2004.10.011
journal February 2005
Measurement of the neutron electric dipole moment via spin rotation in a non-centrosymmetric crystal journal October 2010
Neutron interferometry constrains dark energy chameleon fields journal April 2015
Controlling neutron orbital angular momentum journal September 2015
Noise refocusing in a five-blade neutron interferometer journal August 2017
Generation and detection of spin-orbit coupled neutron beams journal September 2019
Fundamental phenomena of quantum mechanics explored with neutron interferometers journal August 2014
Generalizing the quantum information model for dynamic diffraction journal February 2022
Bragg-case neutron interferometry journal July 1983
Measurement of the neutron reflectivity for Bragg reflections off a perfect silicon crystal journal October 2001
Optimization of a neutron-spin test of the quantum Zeno effect journal July 2003
Quantum-information approach to dynamical diffraction theory journal December 2016
Coherence optimization in neutron interferometry through defocusing journal April 2019
Direct observation of neutron spin rotation in Bragg scattering due to the spin-orbit interaction in silicon journal September 2019
Neutron limit on the strongly-coupled chameleon field journal March 2016
Observation of Gravitationally Induced Quantum Interference journal June 1975
Experimental realization of neutron helical waves journal November 2022
Neutron Interferometry at the National Institute of Standards and Technology journal January 2015
Holography with a neutron interferometer journal January 2016