Phys.org  July 18, 2022 In a crystal, all atoms are connected to each other and have a fixed spatial relationship to each other—so you can minimize the influence of external disturbances on the neutron wave. But this monolithic design limits the possibilities. Alignment of two crystals to create a neutron interferometer did not reach the required accuracy. Scanning X-ray interferometers also consist of separate silicon crystals and are similarly sensitive. An international team of researchers (Austria, France, Italy) used the technology developed for the X-ray interferometer. The team succeeded in detecting neutron interference in a system of two separate crystals. […]