Electric Field Imaging Using Polarized Neutrons

Yuan-Yu Jau, Daniel S. Hussey, Thomas R. Gentile, and Wangchun Chen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 110801 – Published 10 September 2020

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate that electrically neutral particles, neutrons, can be used to directly visualize the electrostatic field inside a target volume that can be physically isolated or occupied. Electric field images are obtained using a spin-polarized neutron beam with a recently developed polarimetry method for polychromatic beams that permits detection of a small angular change in spin orientation. This Letter may enable a new diagnostic technique sensitive to the structure of electric potential, electric polarization, charge distribution, and dielectric constant by imaging spatially dependent electric fields in objects that cannot be accessed by other probes.

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  • Received 11 June 2020
  • Accepted 12 August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.110801

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

General PhysicsAccelerators & BeamsNuclear Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Yuan-Yu Jau*

  • Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87123, USA

Daniel S. Hussey, Thomas R. Gentile, and Wangchun Chen

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

  • *Corresponding author. yjau@sandia.gov

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Vol. 125, Iss. 11 — 11 September 2020

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