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► Journal BrowserSpecial Issue "Exploring Quantum Mechanics: Topics and Advances"
A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Physics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2023 | Viewed by 587
Special Issue Editor
Dr. Stephan Sponar
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
As already recognized in the 1970s, neutron interferometry, which makes use of the Bragg diffraction by successive slices cut from a single (perfect) crystal of silicon, provides a powerful tool for matter-wave interferences experiments testing fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics. These concepts include verification of the 4π spinor symmetry, spin-superposition law, topological (Berry) phases, various gravitational phase effects (COW phase, Sagnac and Fizeau effect), and single-particle entanglement.
Inside a neutron interferometer, a beam of massive particles is split by amplitude division (Mach–Zehnder type) via Bragg reflection (Laue configuration) at the first plate of a silicon perfect crystal interferometer. The coherently superposed sub-beams (partial wave functions) pass through different regions of space. During these space-like separations, typically a few centimeters, the neutron’s wave function is modified in phases (and amplitude), due to various kinds of nuclear, magnetic, electric, or gravitational interactions. The topic of neutron interferometry belongs to the wide field of self-interference. Interferometry without single crystals, applying magnetic fields instead (for instance neutron polarimetry or various spin-echo approaches), can test generalized measurement and preparation uncertainty relations, studies of quantum contextuality, and preparation of spin-orbit entanglement.
In this Special Issue of Symmetry, we will focus on recent neutron interferometric experiments and their applications aiming to study fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics. This Special Issue will cover many topics, such as intra-particle entanglement (Bell/Greenberger-Horne–Zeilinger tests), quantum contextuality (Kochen–Specker theorem), gravitational/inertial phase effects, Aharonov–Vaidman’s weak measurement/value procedure, or orbital angular momentum (OAM) states.
Dr. Stephan Sponar
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
