Neutron Optical Activity Through Spin–Orbit Interaction

Abstract

A theoretical estimate is made of the natural rotation of neutron spin arising through spin–orbit interaction when a polarized neutron beam passes through an assembly of handed molecules. The rotatory power first appears in third order for fixed molecular orientation but only in fourth order for an assembly of randomly oriented molecules. For a favorable case, the magnitudes are expected to be of order 10 −9 cm −1 and 10 −13 cm −1 respectively.