Proposed neutron interferometry test of Berry's phase for a circulating planar spin

• The energy eigenstates of a spin-1/2 particle in a magnetic field confined to a plane, define a planar spin. If the particle moves adiabatically around a loop in this plane, it picks up a topological Berry phase that can only be an integer multiple of π. We propose a neutron interferometry test of the Berry phase for a circulating planar spin induced by a magnetic field caused by a very long current-carrying straight wire perpendicular to the plane. This Berry phase causes destructive interference in the direction of the incoming beam of thermal neutrons moving through a triple-Laue interferometer. 

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Atom- och molekylfysik och optik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Neutron interferometry

topological phase

Berry phase

Physics with spec. in Atomic, Molecular and Condensed Matter Physics

Fysik med inriktning mot atom- molekyl- och kondenserande materiens fysik

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)