Manipulation of gravitational quantum states of a bouncing neutron with the GRANIT spectrometer

Abstract

The bouncing neutron is one of the rare system where gravity can be studied in a quantum framework. To this end it is crucial to be able to select some specific gravitational quantum state (GQS). The GRANIT apparatus is the first physics experiment connected to a superthermal helium UCN source. We report on the methods developed for this instrument showing how specific GQS can be favored using a step between mirrors and an absorbing slit. We explore the increase of GQS separation efficiency by increasing the absorber roughness amplitude, and find it is feasible but requires a high adjustment precision. We also quantify the transmission of the absorbing slit leading to a measurement of the spatial extension of the neutron vertical wave function $z_0={\hslash }^{2/3}{\left(2m^{2}g\right)}^{-1/3}=5.9\pm 0.3\mu$m.

5 pages, 3 figures