High angular resolution neutron interferometry

The currently largest perfect-crystal neutron interferometer with six beam splitters and two interference loops offers novel applications in neutron interferometry. The two additional lamellas can be used for quantitative measurements of a phase shift due to crystal diffraction in the vicinity of a Bragg condition. The arising phase, referred to as “Laue phase,” reveals an extreme angular sensitivity, which allows the detection of beam deflections of the order of 10−6 s of arc. Furthermore, a precise measurement of the Laue phase at different reflections might constitute an interesting opportunity for the extraction of fundamental quantities like the neutron–electron scattering length, gravitational short-range interactions in the sub-micron range and the Debye Waller factor. For that purpose several harmonics can be utilized at the interferometer instrument ILL-S18.