title: Measurements of the vertical coherence length in neutron interferometry.
abstract: The study and use of macroscopic quantum coherence requires long coherence lengths. Here we describe an approach to measuring the vertical coherence length in neutron interferometry, along with improvements to the NIST interferometer that led to a measured coherence length of 790 A. The measurement is based on introducing a path separation and measuring the loss in contrast as this separation is increased. The measured coherence length is consistent with the momentum distribution of the neutron beam. Finally, we demonstrate that the loss in contrast with beam displacement in one leg of the interferometer can be recovered by introducing a corresponding displacement in the second leg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. mitja@mit.edu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Pushin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Cory
mesh_terms: D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009502:Neutrons; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide