# Generation and detection of spin-orbit coupled neutron beams

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to generate and detect neutron beams with coupled spin and orbital angular momentum, enabling advanced studies in topological materials and neutron optics.

## Contribution

It presents a novel technique for creating and detecting spin-orbit coupled neutron beams using $^3$He spin-filters and triangular coils, a new tool in neutron optics.

## Key findings

- Neutron beams with tailored spin-orbit correlations were successfully generated.
- Spin-dependent intensity profiles demonstrated the presence of spin-orbit coupling.
- Potential applications in studying topological materials were identified.

## Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling of light has come to the fore in nano-optics and plasmonics, and is a key ingredient of topological photonics and chiral quantum optics. We demonstrate a basic tool for incorporating analogous effects into neutron optics: the generation and detection of neutron beams with coupled spin and orbital angular momentum. $^3$He neutron spin-filters are used in conjunction with specifically oriented triangular coils to prepare neutron beams with lattices of spin-orbit correlations, as demonstrated by their spin-dependant intensity profiles. These correlations can be tailored to particular applications, such as neutron studies of topological materials.