Dmitry Pushin

Dmitry Pushin uses his broad background to apply quantum information processing methods to improve neutron interferometry, with the goal of making it accessible to the general scientific community as a resource for studying fundamental questions of physics, dark energy, phase transitions in condensed matter, magnetic materials in functional devices and materials science.

• Experimental Neutron Physics
• Interferometry Quantum Information
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Condensed Matter
• Quantum Science
• Quantum Information Processing

Dr. Pushin's research interests are inspired by neutron optics and interferometry techniques. Neutron interferometers are exquisite manifestations of quantum coherence, demonstrating quantum effects on macroscopic scales. They provide a unique opportunity for precision studies on fundamental questions of nature, and neutron interactions with matter. His fundamental research goals are to promote and exploit neutron interferometry to study: Quantum Information Science The development of quantum information processing for quantum computation and communication has pushed the need for new methods of coherent control and it provides a framework for designing new measurements. Many of the advantages of adopting this approach have been demonstrated in studies on nuclear and electron spin systems. However, those aspects of quantum information theory that depend on strong projective measurements are not accessible via magnetic resonance. Neutron Interferometry provides a robust testbed for implementing quantum manipulations and strong measurements. Condensed Matter and Magnetic Materials Recent discoveries of novel materials and the control of orbital angular momentum (OAM) prompted new developments in the field of spin related electronics (spintronics) and quantum devices. Since neutrons are penetrating and their quantum phase is integrated over their path, he plans on using the spin-dependent interferometry as an in-situ and direct measurement of the magnetic properties of functional devices and materials. It is anticipated that this new capability will enable greater insight into the function and design of spintronics. In addition, we have recently developed new methods for producing and using neutron OAM. This opens a wide range of possibilities to directly study helical and chiral materials. Fundamental Questions in Physics Quantum Mechanics is used to explain many observable phenomena. However, many basic axioms of Quantum Physics have not been experimentally verified. Neutron interferometer can be an ideal tool to perform those studies, such as Born's Rule verification. Another aspect where neutron interferometry technique will flourish is fundamental physics. For example, the dark energy, which is proposed to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, is not well understood. A chameleon scalar field, one of the candidates for dark energy, is almost impossible to detect using sensitive gravity tests due to its non-linear coupling to environmental local mass density. Recently, we used neutron interferometry to set the most stringent neutron limit on the coupling strength between the chameleon scalar field and local mass.

• 2006 PhD Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
• 1997 MSc Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russian Federation
• 1995 BSc Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russian Federation

• Faculty member, Institute for Quantum Computing

• MNS 321 - Electrical and Optical Properties of Materials
  • Taught in 2022, 2023, 2024
• MNS 410 - Special Topics in Solid-State Materials
  • Taught in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
• PHYS 704 - Statistical Physics 1
  • Taught in 2019, 2020, 2021
• PHYS 768 - Special Topics in Quantum Information Processing
  • Taught in 2019, 2020
• QIC 890 - Topics in Quantum Information
  • Taught in 2019, 2020

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Controlling neutron orbital angular momentum CW Clark, R Barankov, MG Huber, M Arif, DG Cory, DA Pushin Nature 525 (7570), 504-506
• Spin-Orbit States of Neutron Wavepackets J Nsofini, D Sarenac, CJ Wood, DG Cory, M Arif, CW Clark, MG Huber, Dmitry A Pushin ​Phys. Rev. A 94, 013605 – Published 13 July 2016
• Neutron Limit on the Strongly-Coupled Chameleon Field K Li, M Arif, DG Cory, R Haun, B Heacock, MG Huber, J Nsofini, ...Phys. Rev. D 93, 062001 – Published 11 March 2016
• Please see Google Scholar for a complete list of Dr. Pushin's publications.