A New Approach to Coherent Neutron Optics and Their Applications

相干中子光学的新方法及其应用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04989
• 负责人: Pushin, Dmitry
• 金额: $ 3.5万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763071
• 关键词: New; Approach; Coherent; Neutron; Optics

An interferometer merges two or more sources of light to create an interference pattern, which can be measured and analyzed. Neutron interferometers are exquisite manifestations of quantum coherence. They provide a unique opportunity for precision studies on fundamental questions of nature and neutron interactions with matter and material properties. My proposal exploits coherent control of neutron wave function and neutron interferometry to study: 1) quantum information science, 2) condensed matter and magnetic materials, and 3) fundamental questions in physics. 1. The development of quantum information processing for quantum computation and communication has pushed the need for new methods of coherent control and provides a framework for designing new measurements. Neutron Interferometry provides a robust testbed for implementing quantum manipulations and strong measurements. In the studies proposed here, I will use neutron interferometry to explore coherent control where strong measurements are possible, and I will use quantum information theory to improve the precision and robustness of neutron interferometry-based measurements. 2. Recent discoveries of novel materials and the control of orbital angular momentum (OAM) prompted new developments in the field of spin-related electronics (spintronics) and quantum devices. Because neutrons are penetrative and their quantum phase is integrated over their path, I plan on using the spin-dependent interferometry as an in-situ and direct measurement of the magnetic properties of functional devices and materials. I anticipate that this new capability will enable greater insight into the function and design of spintronics. In addition, we have recently developed new methods for producing and using neutron OAM. This opens a wide range of possibilities to directly study helical and chiral materials. 3. Quantum mechanics is used to explain many observable phenomena. However, many basic axioms of quantum physics have not been experimentally verified. The neutron interferometer is an ideal tool to perform those studies, such as the verification of Born's Rule. Another aspect where neutron interferometry techniques will flourish is fundamental physics. For example, the dark energy, which is proposed to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, is not well understood. A chameleon scalar field, one of the candidates for dark energy, is almost impossible to detect using sensitive gravity tests due to its non-linear coupling to environmental local mass density. Recently, we used neutron interferometry to set the most stringent neutron limit on the coupling strength between the chameleon scalar field and local mass. With our recent demonstration of a grating interferometer based on the universal moiré effect, we have access to a large area and high neutron flux that will enable high precision measurements of forces, such as gravity.

干涉仪合并两个或多个光源以创建一个干涉模式，可以测量和分析。中子干涉仪是量子相干的独家表现。它们为关于自然和中子互动与物质和物质特性的基本问题的精确研究提供了独特的机会。我的建议利用了中性波功能和中子干扰的一致控制：1）量子信息科学，2）凝结物和磁性材料，以及3）物理学中的基本问题。 1。用于量子计算和通信的量子信息处理的开发推动了对连贯控制方法的新方法的需求，并提供了设计新测量结果的框架。中子干涉测量法提供了一个可靠的测试床，用于实施量子操作和强大的测量。在此处提出的研究中，我将使用中子干扰来探索可能进行强尺寸的相干控制，并且我将使用量子信息理论来提高基于中子干扰的测量的精度和鲁棒性。 2。新型材料的最新发现和轨道角动量（OAM）的控制促使自旋相关电子（Spintronics）和量子设备领域的新发展。由于中子是穿透性的，并且其量子相是在其路径上整合的，因此我计划将依赖性的干扰用作拟态的原位和直接测量功能设备和材料的磁性。我预计这种新功能将使Spintronics的功能和设计更深入地了解。此外，我们最近开发了生产和使用中子OAM的新方法。这为直接研究螺旋材料和手性材料开辟了广泛的可能性。 3。量子力学用于解释许多可观察到的现象。但是，尚未实验验证量子物理学的许多基本公理。中子干涉仪是执行这些研究的理想工具，例如对Born规则的验证。中子干涉测量技术将氟的另一个方面是基本物理学。例如，提议解释宇宙加速膨胀的暗能量尚未得到充分理解。变色龙标量场是黑暗能源的候选者之一，由于其非线性耦合与环境局部质量密度，几乎无法使用敏感重力测试来检测。最近，我们使用中子干扰来设置变色龙标量场和局部质量之间耦合强度的最严格的中子限制。在我们最近基于通用Moiré效应的光栅干扰的示范中，我们可以进入大面积和高中子通量，这将实现高精度测量力，例如重力。