Neutron phase shift in moving matter

M. A. Horne, A. Zeilinger, A. G. Klein, and G. I. Opat
Phys. Rev. A 28, 1 – Published 1 July 1983
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Abstract

The effects of a moving medium on the phase of a massive particle are studied theoretically. The discussion explains a recently published Fizeau-type neutron-interferometer experiment. It is shown explicitly that the physics of this experiment can be described either as a manifestation of a time-dependent potential in the Schrödinger equation or as a verification of the Galilean-transformation properties of Schrödinger waves. An intriguing consequence of these considerations is that for most materials no Fizeau phase shift occurs if the boundaries of the moving medium are at rest. However, we point out that such would not be the case in an experiment involving a medium whose potential is velocity dependent.

  • Received 28 December 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.28.1

©1983 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

M. A. Horne* and A. Zeilinger

  • Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

A. G. Klein and G. I. Opat

  • School of Physics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia

  • *Permanent address: Stonehill College, North Easton, MA 02356.

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Vol. 28, Iss. 1 — July 1983

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