top of page
Declan Traill BSc
Here is a simulation of a Neutron:
The Neutron's wave-function is comprised from the sum of a Proton's wave-function, an Electron's wave-function and an Anti-Electron Neutrino's wave-function. These combine to form the wave components of Up/Down/Down Quarks.
Up Quarks are IN waves with +2/3 charge.
Down Quarks are OUT waves with -1/3 charge.
Thus the U/D/D combination gives:
+2/3 - 1/3 - 1/3 = 0 (Thus, a neutral particle).
​
Proton, however, have U/U/D quarks, so have charge: +2/3 + 2/3 - 1/3 = +1 (a positive particle).
​
NOTE: Blue = x-component, Red = y-component, Green = z-component
Red/Blue images have the electron spin axis in/out of the page.
Green/Blue images have the electron spin axis up/down the page.
Neutron's wave-function (spin axis in/out of page)
Neutron's Electric field (spin axis in/out of page)
Neutron Diffraction at a crystal beam-splitter
This animation shows modeling of a Neutron wave function diffracting at a beam splitter.
For example in the case of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer using Neutrons, with a crystal beam-splitter - which causes interference with single Neutrons. When the Neutron interacts with the beam-splitter crystal, its wave-function diffracts, with some of its energy continuing straight on and the rest being reflected. At that same moment that some of the energy continues straight on, the vacuum energy immediately fills the gap in the reflected wave-function to complete the perfect mathematical balance (nature abhors a vacuum). This energy exchange happens in a very short time interval and there is the same amount of energy gained as is lost by the Neutron wave function. It also results in the pattern of the Neutron's wave function being imprinted in the vacuum energy that continues to flow in the other (straight ahead) path - thus allowing the Neutron to interfere with itself when the two paths are recombined.
Neutron diffraction with 40% transmittance: In simplified Theory. The distance across the image is 3.0E-14m. Here is what happens when a Neutron diffracts; but see the next animation for what actually happens...
Neutron diffraction with 40% transmittance: In accurate Theory, here is what really happens when a Neutron diffracts - there is interference between the Neutron's wave function and its reflection - on both sides of the beam-splitter. The distance across the image is 3.0E-14m.
Neutron diffraction with 20% transmittance: In simplified Theory.The distance across the image is 3.0E-14m. Here is what happens when a Neutron diffracts; but see the next animation for what actually happens...
Neutron diffraction with 20% transmittance: In accurate Theory, here is what really happens when a Neutron diffracts - there is interference between the Neutron's wave function and its reflection - on both sides of the beam-splitter. The distance across the image is 3.0E-14m.
Neutron diffraction with 20% transmittance: In accurate Theory, but zoomed out. The distance across the image is 1.0E-8m, rather than 3.0E-14m in the other videos.
bottom of page