On neutron holography, neutron interferometry, and neutron orbital angular momentum

Wolfgang Treimer; Frank Hausser; Ingeborg Beckers; Martin Suda; Terrence Jach

doi:10.1364/OE.571752

On neutron holography, neutron interferometry, and neutron orbital angular momentum

Titel in Übersetzung: Zur Neutronenholographie, Neutroneninterferometrie und zum Orbitalen Drehmoment für Neutronen

Wolfgang Treimer
, Frank Hausser
, Ingeborg Beckers
, Martin Suda
, Terrence Jach

Department of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Berliner Hochschule für Technik
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Begutachtung

3 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

In Opt. Express 24, 22528 (2016), D. Sarenac et al. reported neutron holography
using a Laue crystal interferometer and a spiral phase plate, interpreting the resulting interference
pattern as a hologram reconstructing neutron beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM).
However, this interpretation is highly questionable: the interferometer’s markedly unequal
lateral coherence lengths are far too small and, moreover, should have produced an asymmetric
pattern, which was not observed. Our simulations demonstrate that the reported images can be
fully explained as conventional interference patterns without invoking OAM. Furthermore, we
highlight the inherent challenges of using crystal interferometry for holography and question
whether neutron OAM states are necessary - or even sufficient - to account for the observed
results.

Titel in Übersetzung	Zur Neutronenholographie, Neutroneninterferometrie und zum Orbitalen Drehmoment für Neutronen
Originalsprache	Englisch
Seiten (von - bis)	42385-42401
Seitenumfang	17
Fachzeitschrift	Optics Express
Volume	33
Issue	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.571752
Publikationsstatus	Veröffentlicht - 29 Sept. 2025

UN SDGs

Dieser Output leistet einen Beitrag zu folgendem(n) Ziel(en) für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 4 – Qualitativ hochwertige Bildung

Research Field

Ehemaliges Research Field - Enabling Digital Technologies

Schlagwörter

quantum optics
neutron interferometry
OAM
holography
coherence length

Web of Science subject categories (JCR Impact Factors)

Optics
Quantum Science & Technology

Zugriff auf Dokument

10.1364/OE.571752

oe-33-20-42385Endgültige, publizierte Fassung, 3,76 MB

US-Department of Energy (Herausgeber (Verlag))
Suda, M. (Begutachter:in)
1 März 2026 → 31 März 2026
Aktivität: Sonstige

Diese Publikation zitieren

@article{7d5b72091c67414fb6194ad617657ff3,

title = "On neutron holography, neutron interferometry, and neutron orbital angular momentum",

abstract = "In Opt. Express 24, 22528 (2016), D. Sarenac et al. reported neutron holography using a Laue crystal interferometer and a spiral phase plate, interpreting the resulting interference pattern as a hologram reconstructing neutron beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). However, this interpretation is highly questionable: the interferometer{\textquoteright}s markedly unequal lateral coherence lengths are far too small and, moreover, should have produced an asymmetric pattern, which was not observed. Our simulations demonstrate that the reported images can be fully explained as conventional interference patterns without invoking OAM. Furthermore, we highlight the inherent challenges of using crystal interferometry for holography and question whether neutron OAM states are necessary - or even sufficient - to account for the observed results.",

keywords = "quantum optics, neutron interferometry, OAM, holography, coherence length, neutron optics, interferometry, OAM, coherence",

author = "Wolfgang Treimer and Frank Hausser and Ingeborg Beckers and Martin Suda and Terrence Jach",

note = "OPTICA Verlag",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "29",

doi = "10.1364/OE.571752",

language = "English",

volume = "33",

pages = "42385--42401",

journal = "Optics Express",

issn = "1094-4087",

publisher = "Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA)",

number = "20",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - On neutron holography, neutron interferometry, and neutron orbital angular momentum

AU - Treimer, Wolfgang

AU - Hausser, Frank

AU - Beckers, Ingeborg

AU - Suda, Martin

AU - Jach, Terrence

N1 - OPTICA Verlag

PY - 2025/9/29

Y1 - 2025/9/29

N2 - In Opt. Express 24, 22528 (2016), D. Sarenac et al. reported neutron holography using a Laue crystal interferometer and a spiral phase plate, interpreting the resulting interference pattern as a hologram reconstructing neutron beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). However, this interpretation is highly questionable: the interferometer’s markedly unequal lateral coherence lengths are far too small and, moreover, should have produced an asymmetric pattern, which was not observed. Our simulations demonstrate that the reported images can be fully explained as conventional interference patterns without invoking OAM. Furthermore, we highlight the inherent challenges of using crystal interferometry for holography and question whether neutron OAM states are necessary - or even sufficient - to account for the observed results.

AB - In Opt. Express 24, 22528 (2016), D. Sarenac et al. reported neutron holography using a Laue crystal interferometer and a spiral phase plate, interpreting the resulting interference pattern as a hologram reconstructing neutron beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). However, this interpretation is highly questionable: the interferometer’s markedly unequal lateral coherence lengths are far too small and, moreover, should have produced an asymmetric pattern, which was not observed. Our simulations demonstrate that the reported images can be fully explained as conventional interference patterns without invoking OAM. Furthermore, we highlight the inherent challenges of using crystal interferometry for holography and question whether neutron OAM states are necessary - or even sufficient - to account for the observed results.

KW - quantum optics

KW - neutron interferometry

KW - OAM

KW - holography

KW - coherence length

KW - neutron optics

KW - interferometry

KW - OAM

KW - coherence

U2 - 10.1364/OE.571752

DO - 10.1364/OE.571752

M3 - Article

SN - 1094-4087

VL - 33

SP - 42385

EP - 42401

JO - Optics Express

JF - Optics Express

IS - 20

ER -

On neutron holography, neutron interferometry, and neutron orbital angular momentum

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Field

Schlagwörter

Web of Science subject categories (JCR Impact Factors)

Zugriff auf Dokument

Fingerprint

Aktivitäten

US-Department of Energy (Herausgeber (Verlag))

Diese Publikation zitieren