Si lattice parameter measurement by centimeter X-ray interferometry

Operation model of a skew-symmetric split-crystal neutron interferometer

The observation of neutron interference using a triple Laue interferometer formed by two separate crystals opens the way to the construction and operation of skew-symmetric interferometers with extended arm separation and length. The specifications necessary for their successful operation are investigated here: most importantly, how the manufacturing tolerance and crystal alignments impact the interference visibility. In contrast with previous studies, both incoherent sources and the three-dimensional operation of the interferometer are considered. It is found that, with a Gaussian Schell model of an incoherent source, the integrated density of the particles leaving the interferometer is the same as that yielded by a coherent Gaussian source having a radius equal to the coherence length.

Neutron interference from a split-crystal interferometer

The first successful operation of a neutron interferometer with a separate beam-recombining crystal is reported. This result was achieved at the neutron interferometry setup S18 at the ILL in Grenoble by a collaboration between TU Wien, ILL, Grenoble, and INRIM, Torino. While previous interferometers have been machined out of a single-crystal block, in this work two crystals were successfully aligned on nanoradian and picometre scales, as required to obtain neutron interference. As a decisive proof-of-principle demonstration, this opens the door to a new generation of neutron interferometers and exciting applications.

Defocused travelling fringes in a scanning triple-Laue X-ray interferometry setup

This paper investigates both analytically and experimentally the effect of the defocus (the difference between the splitter-to-mirror and analyser-to-mirror distances) on the phase of the travelling fringes in a separate-crystal triple-Laue X-ray interferometer.

The measurement of the silicon lattice parameter by a separate-crystal triple-Laue X-ray interferometer is a key step for the realization of the kilogram by counting atoms. Since the measurement accuracy is approaching nine significant digits, a reliable model of the interferometer operation is required to quantify or exclude systematic errors. This paper investigates both analytically and experimentally the effect of the defocus (the difference between the splitter-to-mirror and analyser-to-mirror distances) on the phase of the interference fringes and the measurement of the lattice parameter.

CODATA Recommended Values of the Fundamental Physical Constants: 2018

We report the 2018 self-consistent values of constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data of the International Science Council. The recommended values can also be found at physics.nist.gov/constants. The values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all theoretical and experimental data available through 31 December 2018. A discussion of the major improvements as well as inconsistencies within the data is given. The former include a decrease in the uncertainty of the dimensionless fine-structure constant and a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement of particle masses expressed in units of kg due to the transition to the revised International System of Units (SI) with an exact value for the Planck constant. Further, because the elementary charge, Boltzmann constant, and Avogadro constant also have exact values in the revised SI, many other constants are either exact or have significantly reduced uncertainties. Inconsistencies remain for the gravitational constant and the muon magnetic-moment anomaly. The proton charge radius puzzle has been partially resolved by improved measurements of hydrogen energy levels.

CODATA recommended values of the fundamental physical constants: 2018

We report the 2018 self-consistent values of constants and conversion factors of physics and chemistry recommended by the Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA). The recommended values can also be found at physics.nist.gov/constants. The values are based on a least-squares adjustment that takes into account all theoretical and experimental data available through 31 December 2018. A discussion of the major improvements as well as inconsistencies within the data is given. The former include a decrease in the uncertainty of the dimensionless fine-structure constant and a nearly two orders of magnitude improvement of particle masses expressed in units of kg due to the transition to the revised International System of Units (SI) with an exact value for the Planck constant. Further, because the elementary charge, Boltzmann constant, and Avogadro constant also have exact values in the revised SI, many other constants are either exact or have significantly reduced uncertainties. Inconsistencies remain for the gravitational constant and the muon magnetic-moment anomaly. The proton charge radius puzzle has been partially resolved by improved measurements of hydrogen energy levels.

New Definitions of the Kilogram and the Mole: Paradigm Shift to the Definitions Based on Physical Constants

The kilogram is the unit of mass and was defined in 1889 by the international prototype of the kilogram. The mole is the unit of amount of substance and was defined in 1960 by the number of atoms in 0.012 kg of 12C. These definitions were revised in May 2019. The new definitions of the kilogram and the mole are based on the Planck constant h and the Avogadro constant NA, respectively. The values of h and NA used in the new definitions were determined by summarizing measurement results of the two physical constants by several national metrology institutes around the world. In this review, the history of the two units and measurement technologies used to derive the new definitions are described. The effect of the revision on the development of new measurement technologies is also introduced.

High-Precision Determination of Oxygen K_{α} Transition Energy Excludes Incongruent Motion of Interstellar Oxygen

We demonstrate a widely applicable technique to absolutely calibrate the energy scale of x-ray spectra with experimentally well-known and accurately calculable transitions of highly charged ions, allowing us to measure the K-shell Rydberg spectrum of molecular O_{2} with 8 meV uncertainty. We reveal a systematic ∼450  meV shift from previous literature values, and settle an extraordinary discrepancy between astrophysical and laboratory measurements of neutral atomic oxygen, the latter being calibrated against the aforementioned O_{2} literature values. Because of the widespread use of such, now deprecated, references, our method impacts on many branches of x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Moreover, it potentially reduces absolute uncertainties there to below the meV level.

Lattice-dependent spin Hall effect of light in a Weyl semimetal

We systematically study the lattice-dependent spin Hall effect of light (SHEL) in a Weyl semimetal (WSM) by considering left-handed polarization of the incident beam, and propose a new simple method to sense the lattice spacing precisely. It is revealed that the lattice spacing plays as essential a role as the Weyl points separation in the influences on the SHEL, and the variations of SHEL shifts are closely related to the real part of Hall conductivity. Specifically, the SHEL shifts increase to the peak values first and then decrease gradually with the increase of lattice spacing, and a quantitative relationship between the SHEL and the lattice spacing is established. By simulating weak measurement experiments, the lattice-dependent SHEL shifts are amplified and measured in desirable accuracies. Subsequently, we propose a method of precisely sensing the lattice spacing based on the amplified SHEL shifts. These researches provide theoretical basis for manipulating the SHEL in WSMs, and may open the possibility of fabricating the WSM parameter sensors.

Calibration of a silicon crystal for absolute nuclear spectroscopy

To tie the wavelengths of γ-rays to a visible standard is a key element of accurate determinations of the Planck constant and of tests of the Einstein mass–energy equivalence. This link is achievedviasmall diffraction angle measurements and perfect single crystals, the lattice parameter of which is determined by combined X-ray and optical interferometry. The present paper concerns the lattice parameter measurement of an Si crystal, of a natural isotopic composition, designed to be used both as the analyser crystal of an X-ray interferometer and the reference grating of a γ-ray spectrometer.

Observation of a bent crystal-lattice by x-ray interferometry

he capability of operating a separate crystal x-ray interferometer over centimeter displacements has made it possible to observe minute strain fields of a bent crystal at the atomic scale resolution by means of phase-contrast x-ray topography. Measurement and predictive capabilities of lattice strain are key ingredients of a highly accurate measurement of the Si lattice parameter and of a determination of the number of atoms in a realization of the mass unit based on an atom mass. Here we show that the observed strain can be accurately predicted by a finite-element analysis of the crystal deformation.