Observation of the Goos-Hänchen shift with neutrons.

The Goos-Hänchen effect is a spatial shift along an interface resulting from an interference effect that occurs for total internal reflection. This phenomenon was suggested by Sir Isaac Newton, but it was not until 1947 that the effect was experimentally observed by Goos and Hänchen. We provide the first direct, absolute, experimental determination of the Goos-Hänchen shift for a particle experiencing a potential well as required by quantum mechanics: namely, wave-particle duality. Here, the particle is a spin-polarized neutron reflecting from a film of magnetized material. We detect the effect through a subtle change in polarization of the neutron. Here, we demonstrate, through experiment and theory, that neutrons do exhibit the Goos-Hänchen effect and postulate that the associated time shift should also be observable.

Polarization optimization of spin-echo small angle scattering instruments.

The polarization optimization in a small angle scattering spin-echo setup is considered, under the depolarization and phase errors that occur in field transition regions by improper adjustment of inclined magnetized foils as pi-flippers. Various correction procedures are discussed. In these setups with precession fields perpendicular to the beam directions, corrections can be reduced strongly by the use of pi-flippers, and for the remaining errors, correction coils can be constructed.