Coherent control of neutron interferometry

Abstract

In this thesis, several novel techniques are proposed and demonstrated for measuring the coherent properties of materials and testing aspects of quantum information processing using a single crystal neutron interferometer. In particular we introduce methods for reciprocal space encoding of spatial information systematically in a neutron interferometer. First, a proof of principle experiment is conducted for coherent reciprocal space neutron imaging. This newly proposed technique overcomes the limitation of spacial resolution of current two dimensional neutron detectors. Second, an experiment to measure the vertical coherent length of a neutron interferometer is reported, which extends the previously achieved path separation. Third, we propose a new interferometry geometry that reduces the sensitivity of the neutron interferometer to environmental vibrational disturbances. The method is based on a quantum error compensating algorithm. Finally, a new method that is capable of measuring the autocorrelation function of a sample is proposed. This new technique can extend the capability of traditional neutron scattering experiments. All experiments are conducted at the neutron interferometry facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).