Cold Neutron Interferometry Using Multilayer Mirrors

Abstract

Cold neutron interferometry using multilayer mirrors is discussed. The interferometry includes two kinds of multilayer interferometers, which are analogous optically to the Mach-Zehnder and the Jamin interferometer in classical optics. The Mach-Zehnder multilayer interferometer has been installed at JRR-3M reactor of JAERI. We describe the conditions required for the Mach-Zehnder multilayer interferometer and the characteristics of the interferometer. The Jamin multilayer interferometer, called a phase echo interferometer, shows a phase echo effect analogous functionally to the spin echo principle. We describe briefly the first successful performance tests. We propose a phase echo spin interferometer using multilayer spin splitters, based on the phase echo principle and the coherent superposition of the spin eigenstates.