Spatial modulation of a neutron beam by Larmor precession

We modulated the intensity of a neutron beam using Larmor precession techniques. We simulated triangular coils by using magnetised foils in electromagnets with rectangular pole shoes. Reversing the orientation of two of the magnetised foils in the spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering (SESANS)-instrument in Delft and changing the field settings was sufficient to obtain a modulation with a period in the order of 1 mm. We expect to be able to go to a modulation with a period of .This technique can be used to measure small-angle neutron scattering, analogous to the method used in SESANS, but with the advantage that all the manipulation of the neutron spin occurs before the sample. This means that the technique is insensitive to magnetic perturbations at the sample position. By positioning several of these devices after each other it will be possible to obtain a sharper modulation, or a modulation in two directions.     

Exact spin rotation by precession during neutron interferometry

Time dependent magnetic fields can be used to produce exact rotations of spin wavefunctions. This avoids the inherent approximations encountered in experiments performed with static fields to demonstrate the effect of 2π-rotations on fermions. Two of the experiments proposed explicitly will use forthcoming interferometers for ultra cold neutrons.     

Thomas precession and spin

With the help of the infinitesimal covariant Lorentz transformations, it is demonstrated that the Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi classical spin equation naturally involves the Thomas precession. The same results are obtained using the alternative phenomenological approach. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 81–86, November, 2006.     

Torsion-induced spin precession

We investigate the motion of a spinning test particle in a spatially-flat FRW-type space-time in the framework of the Einstein–Cartan theory. The space-time has a torsion arising from a spinning fluid filling the space-time. We show that, for spinning particles with non-zero transverse spin components, the torsion induces a precession of the particle spin around the direction of the spin of the fluid. We also show that a charged spinning particle moving in a torsion-less spatially-flat FRW space-time in the presence of a uniform magnetic field undergoes a precession of a different character.     

Larmor precession in polarization spectroscopy with spatially separated beams

Sodium vapour in a sealed cell is irradiated by two counter-propagating but laterally displaced beams from the same laser, tuned to one of the hf components of the D₁ line. Atoms pumped by the stronger beam, circularly polarized, precess in a transverse magnetic field, < 300 mG, during their passage to the weaker beam where their orientation is monitored. The observed signals are interpreted quantitatively.     

Interaction-driven spin precession in quantum-dot spin valves

We analyze spin-dependent transport through spin valves composed of an interacting quantum dot coupled to two ferromagnetic leads. The spin on the quantum dot and the linear conductance as a function of the relative angle theta of the leads' magnetization directions is derived to lowest order in the dot-lead coupling strength. Because of the applied bias voltage spin accumulates on the quantum dot, which for finite charging energy experiences a torque, resulting in spin precession. The latter leads to a nontrivial, interaction-dependent, theta dependence of the conductance. In particular, we find that the spin-valve effect is reduced for all theta not equal pi.     

Search for spin-dependent macroscopic short-range interactions using neutron spin precession close to a mirror

Free neutrons can be employed as a sensitive probe to search for spin-dependent macroscopic short-range interactions induced by axion-like particles. In this Letter it is proposed to use pseudomagnetic precession of ultracold neutrons propagating close to a massive mirror of a trap. The method should be several orders of magnitude more sensitive than other methods proposed so far.     

原子Larmor旋进产生机理的简易描述

用一种简易方法对原子Ｌａｒｍｏｒ旋进的产生机理作出描述。     

Larmor precession and dwell time of a particle scattered by a quantum well

The Larmor precession of a neutral spin- particle in a uniform constant magnetic field confined to the region of a one-dimensional rectangular potential well is investigated. The spin precession serves as a clock to measure the time spent by a quantum particle dwelling at a potential well. With the help of a general spin coherent state it is explicitly shown that the spin precession time is equal to the dwell time. The comparison of the time in a potential well with that in free space shows apparent superluminality.     

T-violation and neutron optics experiments

It is shown that a two-step model of the reaction pd→³HeX (X=η, η′ eω, φ), involving the subprocesses pp) →dπ⁺ and π⁺ n→Xp, can account for the form of the energy dependence of experimental cross sections above the thresholds under the assumption that the singlet part of the pp→dπ⁺ amplitude dominates. The spin-spin asymmetry for the reaction dp→³HeX has been found to be ∼;−1 in the forward-backward approximation. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 63, No. 1, 3–7 (10 January 1996) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Neutrino induced magnetic moment and spin precession

When propagating through a dispersing medium, a massive neutrino acquires an induced magnetic moment that may give rise to a helicity flip in an external magnetic field with a larger probability than that caused by the anomalous magnetic moment. This phenomenon is investigated in the framework of relativistic quantum mechanics and of the generalized Bargmann–Michel–Telegdi equation.     

Zero-field and Larmor spinor precessions in a neutron polarimeter experiment

We present a neutron polarimetric experiment where two kinds of spinor precessions are observed: one is induced by different total energy of neutrons (zero-field precession) and the other is induced by a stationary guide field (Larmor precession). A characteristic of the former is the dependence of the energy-difference, which is in practice tuned by the frequency of the interacting oscillating magnetic field ωR. In contrast the latter completely depends on the strength of the guide field, namely Larmor frequency ωL. Our neutron-polarimetric experiment exhibits individual tuning as well as specific properties of each spinor precession, which assures the use of both spin precessions for multi-entangled spinor manipulation.     

Thomas precession for spin and for a rod

In this paper we obtain the differential equations which describe the rotating rod and precession of the spin of a gyroscope moving along a curved trajectory. Several examples of such motion are considered. The obtained equations differ from the traditional Thomas expression, interpreted as a rotation of the noninertial frame relative to the fixed one. The cause of this disagreement is the fact that, in general, the axes of the moving frame are not orthogonal for the fixed observers. When the velocity changes, the axes’ direction changes, due to both Wigner rotation and Lorentz contraction. In the present paper we take into account both of these factors. It is shown that the vectors representing various physical quantities transform in different ways in the moving reference frame. Thus, the kinematic equations describing the motion of these quantities in a fixed frame are different as well.     

Negative muon precession in nuclei with spin

Polarized negative muons were stopped in various materials containing nuclei with nonzero spin. The TF-SR precession signal of theF ⁺ hyperfine state (frequencyv ₊ > 0) was pronounced for ^–Li and ^–Be, faint for ^–Cl (in NiCl₂), and undetectable for ^–F (in CaF₂ or NiF₂) and ^–P. TheF ^– signal (frequencyv _– < 0) was observed clearly for ^–Be, ^–Al and ^–Na, marginally for ^–K, ^–V and ^–Nb, and not at all for ^–Ga (at 4 kOe) or ^–Co (ferrromagnetic, zero field). In the heavier elements theF ^– signal is fed by transitions from theF ⁺ to theF ^– state at a rateR, as long asR(v ₊ –v _–). [See separate paper on ^–Al in these Proceedings, p. 879.]I am grateful to Alex Schenck and Bruce Patterson for the loan of equipment and samples, to Fred Gygax for helping set up the apparatus, to Jun Imazato for help with the experiment, and to Toshi Yamazaki and Tak Suzuki for valuable comments. I am also indebted to SIN for several weeks of free ^– beam time and to SIN, BOOM, and the University of Tokyo for free time on their VAX computers, which were kept busy for several months in the analysis.     

Coherent spin precession in normal Fermi liquids

In the collisionless limit the Fermi liquid interaction gives rise to nondissipative spin currents. Due to these currents, a coherently precessing spin state may be formed in NMR-experiments with normal Fermi liquids. This state consists of two domains separated by a coherently precessing domain wall. In one of the domains the magnetization is oriented along, and in the other opposite, to the direction of the magnetic field. Such a state has been studied in NMR-experiments in liquid³He and³He-⁴He solutions. The conditions necessary for the formation of the state are considered. Possible other substances in which similar states may be observed are discussed.     

Constraining hadronic superfluidity with neutron star precession

I show that the standard picture of the neutron star core containing coexisting neutron and proton superfluids, with the proton component forming a type II superconductor threaded by flux tubes, is inconsistent with observations of long-period (approximately 1 yr) precession in isolated pulsars. I conclude that either the two superfluids coexist nowhere in the stellar core, or the core is a type I superconductor rather than type II. Either possibility would have interesting implications for neutron star cooling and theories of spin jumps (glitches).     

Nested neutron microfocusing optics on SNAP

The high source intensity of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), together with efficient detectors and large detector solid angles, now makes possible neutron experiments with much smaller sample volumes than previously were practical. Nested Kirkpatrick–Baez supermirror optics provide a promising and efficient way to further decrease the useable neutron sample size by focusing polychromatic neutrons into microbeams. Because the optics are nondispersive, they are ideal for spallation sources and for polychromatic and wide bandpass experiments on reactor sources. Theoretical calculations indicate that nested mirrors can preserve source brilliance at the sample for small beams and for modest divergences that are appropriate for diffraction experiments. Although the flux intercepted by a sample can be similar with standard beam-guided approaches, the signal-to-background is much improved with small beams on small samples. Here we describe the design, calibration and performance of a nested neutron mirror pair for the Spallation Neutrons At Pressure (SNAP) beamline at the SNS. High-pressure neutron diffraction is but one example of a large class of neutron experiments that will benefit from spatially-resolved microdiffraction.     

Electron spin precession upon reflecting from ferromagnetic surfaces

Electrons with the polarization vector perpendicular to the magnetization of Fe, Co, and Ni films are spin analyzed after reflecting from the ferromagnet. At low primary electron energies a strong spin motion is found, namely, a precession of the polarization around the magnetization and a change of the angle between the polarization and the magnetization. This observation can be accounted for by the existence of spin-dependent gaps in the electronic band structure of the ferromagnets.