SPECTRAL MODULATION AND SQUEEZING AT HIGH-ORDER NEUTRON INTERFERENCES

A striking spectral-modulation effect has been observed by means of a proper postselection procedure under conditions where the spatial shif t of the wave trains greatly exceeds the coherence length of the neutr on beams traversing an interferometer. It is shown that Schrodinger-ca t-like states are created by the superposition of two coherent states generated in the interferometer. These entangled states exhibit, under certain circumstances, characteristic squeezing phenomena, indicating a highly nonclassical behavior. Analogies with optical experiments ar e discussed.