General relativistic treatment of the Colella-Overhauser-Werner experimenton neutron interference in a gravitational field

In the Colella-Overhauser-Werner (COW) experiment a gravity-induced phase s hift of spin 1/2 particles was detected. The experimental results were expl ained by using the Newtonian theory or gravity. The explanation can be easi ly given using general relativistic arguments and the highest order term re produces the result of Colella, Overhauser, and Werner together with additi onal, lower order corrections. The derivation can be considered as an inter esting exercise for students with basic knowledge of the field of general r elativity. (C) 2000 American Association of Physics Teachers.