Direct observation of fermion spin superposition by neutron interferometry

Abstract

The coherent superposition of oppositely polarized neutron beams of equal amplitude results in a final beam polarization perpendicular to the polarization of both initial beams. This polarization can be rotated by purely scalar interaction applied to the beams before superposition, which is equivalent to an additional Larmor precession applied to the beam after superposition. We have directly observed these effects in an experiment performed using the perfect-crystal neutron interferometer at the high-flux reactor at Grenoble. This paper gives the experimental results and discusses their theoretical foundation. © 1983 The American Physical Society.