Generation of Neutron Airy Beams
May 15, 2025
Airy neutron diffraction spectra propagation dynamics. 2D intensity profiles (a) and diffraction spot trajectories (b) of both experimental and simulated Airy beams for various propagation distances.
Scientific Achievement
Experimental realization of free space propagating neutron airy beams through holographic approaches in SANS.
Significance and Impact
Establishes unprecedented optical methods for exotic manipulations of neutron states through self-acceleration, nondiffraction, and self-healing properties which promise access to novel topological neutron scattering modalities of quantum materials.
Research Details
- Neutron Airy beams were generated on GP-SANS using holographic cubic phase gratings, revealing parabolic propagation and intensity zeros consistent with the Airy function.
“Generation of Neutron Airy Beams,“ Physical Review Letters 134 153401 (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.153401
