Working Outside the Vault: Making Neutrons Better at Analyzing Materials

The video discusses the NIST vault, which houses a silicon block used in an interferometer to study materials. The current system faces challenges due to environmental sensitivity and distance from the neutron source. Researchers from NIST and the University of Waterloo have developed a new four-blade interferometer that increases efficiency and accuracy, allowing for more experiments in less time. This innovation could significantly impact the study of materials critical for future technologies.

In what ways can the new interferometer impact future experiments?

What types of materials can be studied using the neutron interferometer?