Neutron Apparatus (IMAGE)
Caption
Schematic of the neutron interferometer used in the orbital angular momentum experiment. Neutron waves enter from the left and are divided into two beams which take different paths before being reunited to form an interference pattern. The phase flag, consisting of a 2-mm-thick layer of fused silica, is used to fine-tune the phase of the neutron sub-beams approaching the third blade. The spiral phase plate, made from a machined block of aluminum, imparts orbital angular momentum to the neutron waves taking that particular path. Finally, the interference pattern at the third blade is recorded in a 2-dimensional detector. This configuration is similar to that of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer widely used in optics.
Credit
Ivar Taminiau
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