Transport of polarized neutrons through magnetic noncoplanar layered systems

The transport of neutrons through noncoplanar systems is shown to have a partly unidirectional character. To this end, the transmission of a three-layer magnetic film with a noncoplanar magnetization in the absence of applied magnetic field and the transmission of a two-layer magnetic film with a noncollinear magnetization in the presence of a magnetic field are calculated. The calculations demonstrate that, if the losses in the films are neglected, the transmissions in two opposite directions differ only for processes with and without spin flip. If these losses are taken into account, the total transmissions of a nonpolarized neutron beam in two opposite directions are also different. The consequences of these specific features of noncoplanar systems are discussed.