Collaborative Research: Neutron Interferometry Experiments for Nuclear Physics

合作研究：核物理中子干涉实验

• 批准号: 0555588
• 负责人: Timothy Black
• 金额: $ 4.85万
• 依托单位: University of North Carolina at Wilmington
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2013-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0555588&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Neutron; Interferometry; Experiments

Neutron Interferometry Experiments for Nuclear Physics:The neutron interferometer is a device that uses the quantum mechanical wave-like properties of free neutrons to measure certain properties of matter very precisely. It functions much like a light interferometer, except that it detects the interference of neutron matter waves rather than light waves. A cold neutron (moving less than 2000 m/s) has an associated quantum wavelength comparable in size to the spacing of atoms in a solid, so it interacts with these atoms coherently, i.e. like a matter wave rather than a particle. When a slow neutron enters the interferometer, its matter wave is diffracted in a perfect silicon crystal and splits into two sub-waves, each taking a different path. The two sub-waves meet again in a another crystal and can interfere with each other. The degree of interference determines the probability of detecting the neutron in a neutron detector placed behind the interferometer. We can place a piece of matter, a magnetic or electric field, or even a gravitational field inside the interferometer to shift the phase of one sub-wave relative to another and change this interference. This gives important and often unique information about the strength and nature of the neutron's interaction in the material or field. We use the neutron interferometer to study phenomena important for nuclear physics, such as the internal charge distribution of the neutron and the scattering of neutrons from light nuclei.Several graduate and undergraduate students participate in this research program. In addition to learning the science of neutron interferometry, they are educated broadly in the physics and methodology of research at neutron sources, which prepares them for a wide range of careers related to neutron science in academia and industry.

核物理中子干涉测量实验：中子干涉仪是一种利用自由中子的量子力学波状特性来非常精确地测量物质某些特性的设备。它的功能很像光干涉仪，只不过它探测的是中子物质波而不是光波的干涉。一个冷中子（移动速度低于2000米/秒）的量子波长大小与固体中原子的间距相当，因此它与这些原子的相互作用是一致的，即像物质波而不是粒子。当一个慢中子进入干涉仪时，它的物质波在一个完美的硅晶体中衍射，并分裂成两个子波，每个子波走不同的路径。这两个子波在另一个晶体中再次相遇，并且可以相互干扰。干涉的程度决定了放置在干涉仪后面的中子探测器探测到中子的概率。我们可以在干涉仪内放置一块物质，一个磁场或电场，甚至一个引力场，以改变一个子波相对于另一个子波的相位，从而改变这种干涉。这提供了关于中子在材料或场中相互作用的强度和性质的重要且通常是独特的信息。我们使用中子干涉仪来研究核物理的重要现象，如中子的内部电荷分布和轻核中子的散射。几名研究生和本科生参加了这个研究项目。除了学习中子干涉测量学外，他们还接受了中子源物理学和研究方法的广泛教育，这为他们在学术界和工业界从事与中子科学相关的广泛职业做好了准备。