Neutron interferometer

Interferometry inherently depends on the wave nature of the object. As pointed out by de Broglie in his PhD-thesis, particles, including neutrons, can behave like waves (the so called Wave-particle duality, now explained in the general framework of quantum mechanics). Since free neutrons only live about 11 minutes, experiments need to be carried out near a neutron source, usually a nuclear power plant. Since neutrons react only very slightly to electromagnetic forces, special optics is required, nevertheless many exeperiments were carried out, especially in the 1960s.

See also