Atom and Neutron Interferometry Meet Quantum Information Theory
Physical Measurement Laboratory, Radiation Physics Division
NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.
This program explores complementary aspects of atom and neutron interferometry with particular emphasis on their interplay with quantum information theory. We have recently commissioned a new neutron interferometer, inspired by the theory of decoherence-free subspaces, which decouples the instrument from mechanical vibrations and offers enhanced neutron interference contrast. We have also recently implemented control of neutron orbital angular momentum and are exploring its use as a spatial filter and multiplexer/demultiplexer of neutron beams, and its exploitation in neutron-based quantum information processing. Experimental and theoretical proposals are solicited which develop improved techniques for atom or neutron interferometry using quantum information principles, investigate fundamental quantum physics using the neutron interferometry facility at the NIST Center for Neutron Research, explore parallels between atom and neutron interferometry that could enhance the scope of either technique, or yield new avenues for quantum information processing.