Topological shaping of vortex neutron beams using forked phase gratings

S. McKay; S. R. Parnell; R. M. Dalgliesh; N. V. Lavrik; I. I. Kravchenko; Q. Le Thien; D. V. Baxter; G. Ortiz; R. Pynn

doi:10.1103/prnf-wtjp

Topological shaping of vortex neutron beams using forked phase gratings

S. McKay
, S. R. Parnell
, R. M. Dalgliesh
, N. V. Lavrik
, I. I. Kravchenko
, Q. Le Thien
, D. V. Baxter
, G. Ortiz
, R. Pynn

Nanofabrication Research Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Beams of light or matter that carry well-defined states of orbital angular momentum (OAM) are promising probes of topological and textured condensed matter systems such as magnetic skyrmions. Using spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering, a phase-sensitive technique that allows for a relatively low intensity beam, we demonstrate the production of vortex neutron beams from forked phase gratings of various topological charges. This type of interferometric verification of OAM we present here could be further extended to other platforms using probes that are similarly limited by the coherence and strength of the currently available sources.

Original language	English
Article number	023199
Journal	Physical Review Research
Volume	8
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/prnf-wtjp
State	Published - Apr 1 2026

Funding

We thank Chen-Ting Liao for useful discussions. The grating fabrication was conducted as part of a user project at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is a US Department of Energy, Office of Science User Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The experiment was performed on the Larmor instrument at the ISIS Neutron and Muon source (UK) supported by beamtime allocations RB2410229 and RB2510242 from the Science and Technology Facilities Council [71,72]. The IU Quantum Science and Engineering Center is supported by the IU Vice President for Research. This work was funded in part by the Department of Energy STTR program (Grant No. DE-SC0023624).

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abstract = "Beams of light or matter that carry well-defined states of orbital angular momentum (OAM) are promising probes of topological and textured condensed matter systems such as magnetic skyrmions. Using spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering, a phase-sensitive technique that allows for a relatively low intensity beam, we demonstrate the production of vortex neutron beams from forked phase gratings of various topological charges. This type of interferometric verification of OAM we present here could be further extended to other platforms using probes that are similarly limited by the coherence and strength of the currently available sources.",

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AU - McKay, S.

AU - Parnell, S. R.

AU - Dalgliesh, R. M.

AU - Lavrik, N. V.

AU - Kravchenko, I. I.

AU - Le Thien, Q.

AU - Baxter, D. V.

AU - Ortiz, G.

AU - Pynn, R.

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AB - Beams of light or matter that carry well-defined states of orbital angular momentum (OAM) are promising probes of topological and textured condensed matter systems such as magnetic skyrmions. Using spin-echo small-angle neutron scattering, a phase-sensitive technique that allows for a relatively low intensity beam, we demonstrate the production of vortex neutron beams from forked phase gratings of various topological charges. This type of interferometric verification of OAM we present here could be further extended to other platforms using probes that are similarly limited by the coherence and strength of the currently available sources.

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JO - Physical Review Research

JF - Physical Review Research

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ER -

Topological shaping of vortex neutron beams using forked phase gratings

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