A New Approach to Coherent Neutron Optics and Their Applications

干涉仪合并两个或多个光源以创建可以测量和分析的干涉图案。中子干涉仪是量子相干性的精美体现。它们为精确研究自然以及中子与物质和材料特性相互作用的基本问题提供了独特的机会。我的建议利用中子波函数和中子干涉测量的相干控制来研究：1）量子信息科学，2）凝聚态物质和磁性材料，3）物理学的基本问题。 1. 用于量子计算和通信的量子信息处理的发展推动了对相干控制新方法的需求，并为设计新测量提供了框架。中子干涉测量为实施量子操纵和强测量提供了一个强大的测试平台。在这里提出的研究中，我将使用中子干涉测量来探索可以进行强测量的相干控制，并且我将使用量子信息理论来提高基于中子干涉测量的精度和鲁棒性。 2. 新型材料和轨道角动量（OAM）控制的最新发现促进了自旋相关电子学（自旋电子学）和量子器件领域的新发展。由于中子具有穿透性，并且它们的量子相在其路径上积分，因此我计划使用自旋相关干涉测量法作为功能器件和材料磁性的原位直接测量。我预计这种新功能将使人们能够更深入地了解自旋电子学的功能和设计。此外，我们最近还开发了生产和使用中子OAM的新方法。这为直接研究螺旋和手性材料提供了广泛的可能性。 3. 量子力学被用来解释许多可观察到的现象。然而，量子物理学的许多基本公理尚未得到实验验证。中子干涉仪是进行这些研究的理想工具，例如验证玻恩定律。中子干涉测量技术蓬勃发展的另一个方面是基础物理学。例如，暗能量被提出来解释宇宙的加速膨胀，但目前还没有得到很好的理解。变色龙标量场是暗能量的候选者之一，由于其与环境局部质量密度的非线性耦合，几乎不可能使用敏感的重力测试来检测。最近，我们使用中子干涉测量法对变色龙标量场和局部质量之间的耦合强度设定了最严格的中子限制。通过我们最近演示的基于通用莫尔效应的光栅干涉仪，我们可以获得大面积和高中子通量，从而能够高精度测量重力等力。

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.