Scientists at NIST have developed a new method to twist neutron beams, a breakthrough that could expand the capabilities of these unique particles in scientific research.
The team, including researchers from Boston University and the University of Waterloo, discovered that by passing neutrons through a specially designed aluminum plate with a spiral surface, they could impart a controlled twist to the neutron beam. This twist, known as orbital angular momentum, is a quantum property that has been harnessed in other particles like photons for various applications.
Neutrons are particularly useful in studying the molecular structure of complex materials because they are electrically neutral and interact weakly with matter. By controlling their orbital angular momentum, scientists may be able to better understand the properties of twisted materials, such as chiral molecules and rare earth elements with rotating magnetic properties.
The development of this neutron beam manipulation technique could lead to new applications in materials science and other fields where understanding the structure and behavior of complex materials is crucial.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2015/09/nist-puts-twist-neutrons-because-it-takes-one-know-one
Keywords: Neutron, Angular momentum, OAM, Materials, Probes
