Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror

We present a theoretical analysis of the experimental data reported by Ichikawa et al. on the spatial distribution of ultracold neutrons in the Earth’s gravitational field above a mirror. The data involve a projection onto a pixelated detector via scattering by a cylindrical mirror. Our study includ...

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Main Authors: Derar Altarawneh, Roman Höllwieser, Markus Wellenzohn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Universe
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/12/460
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author Derar Altarawneh
Roman Höllwieser
Markus Wellenzohn
author_facet Derar Altarawneh
Roman Höllwieser
Markus Wellenzohn
author_sort Derar Altarawneh
collection DOAJ
description We present a theoretical analysis of the experimental data reported by Ichikawa et al. on the spatial distribution of ultracold neutrons in the Earth’s gravitational field above a mirror. The data involve a projection onto a pixelated detector via scattering by a cylindrical mirror. Our study includes a calculation of the theoretical spatial distribution of the probability density associated with the quantum gravitational states of ultracold neutrons. Furthermore, we analyze this spatial distribution using the Wigner function framework. Based on our analysis, we cannot confirm that the experimental data reported by Ichikawa et al. correspond to the spatial distribution of quantum gravitational states of ultracold neutrons.
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spelling doaj-art-68293ae24b11408da4d43cf9e892f9212025-08-20T02:01:14ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972024-12-01101246010.3390/universe10120460Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a MirrorDerar Altarawneh0Roman Höllwieser1Markus Wellenzohn2Department of Applied Physics, Tafila Technical University, Tafila 66110, JordanDepartment of Theoretical Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Wuppertal University, Gaußstraße 20, 42119 Wuppertal, GermanyDepartment of Engineering, Applied Electronics and Technical Informatics, University of Applied Sciences Vienna (FH Campus Wien), 1100 Vienna, AustriaWe present a theoretical analysis of the experimental data reported by Ichikawa et al. on the spatial distribution of ultracold neutrons in the Earth’s gravitational field above a mirror. The data involve a projection onto a pixelated detector via scattering by a cylindrical mirror. Our study includes a calculation of the theoretical spatial distribution of the probability density associated with the quantum gravitational states of ultracold neutrons. Furthermore, we analyze this spatial distribution using the Wigner function framework. Based on our analysis, we cannot confirm that the experimental data reported by Ichikawa et al. correspond to the spatial distribution of quantum gravitational states of ultracold neutrons.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/12/460ultracold neutrongravitational field
spellingShingle Derar Altarawneh
Roman Höllwieser
Markus Wellenzohn
Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
Universe
ultracold neutron
gravitational field
title Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
title_full Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
title_fullStr Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
title_short Spatial Distribution of Ultracold Neutron Probability Density in the Gravitational Field of the Earth Above a Mirror
title_sort spatial distribution of ultracold neutron probability density in the gravitational field of the earth above a mirror
topic ultracold neutron
gravitational field
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/12/460
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AT markuswellenzohn spatialdistributionofultracoldneutronprobabilitydensityinthegravitationalfieldoftheearthaboveamirror