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Matter-Wave Interferometer for Large Molecules

2002; American Physical Society; Volume: 88; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1103/physrevlett.88.100404

1092-0145

Björn Brezger, Lucia Hackermüller, S. Uttenthaler, J. Petschinka, Markus Arndt, Anton Zeilinger,

Quantum Information and Cryptography

We demonstrate a near-field Talbot-Lau interferometer for ${\mathrm{C}}_{70}$ fullerene molecules. Such interferometers are particularly suitable for larger masses. Using three free-standing gold gratings of $1\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ period and a transversally incoherent but velocity-selected molecular beam, we achieve an interference fringe visibility of $40%$ with high count rate. Both the high visibility and its velocity dependence are in good agreement with a quantum simulation that takes into account the van der Waals interaction of the molecules with the gratings and are in striking contrast to a classical moir\'e model.