Decoherence Free Neutron Interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel neutron interferometer geometry that reduces sensitivity to environmental vibrations, potentially enhancing its practical applications and measurement sensitivity.

Contribution

A new interferometer design less sensitive to vibrations, inspired by quantum information techniques, enabling easier and more sensitive neutron interferometry.

Findings

Reduced vibration sensitivity in the new geometry

Potential for easier implementation without bulky isolation

Enhanced measurement sensitivity

Abstract

Perfect single-crystal neutron interferometers are adversely sensitive to environmental disturbances, particularly mechanical vibrations. The sensitivity to vibrations results from the slow velocity of thermal neutrons and the long measurement time that are encountered in a typical experiment. Consequently, to achieve a good interference solutions for reducing vibration other than those normally used in optical experiments must be explored. Here we introduce a geometry for a neutron interferometer that is less sensitive to low-frequency vibrations. This design may be compared with both dynamical decoupling methods and decoherence-free subspaces that are described in quantum information processing. By removing the need for bulky vibration isolation setups, this design will make it easier to adopt neutron interferometry to a wide range of applications and increase its sensitivity.