Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1906.08665 · CPT and Lorentz Symmetry

First Demonstration of Antimatter Quantum Interferometry

Marco G. Giammarchi

Published Apr 7, 2020• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

This paper descrives the first experimental evidence of antimatter-wave interference, a process at the heart of Quantum Physics and its interpretation. For the case of ordinary matter particles, interference phenomena have been observed in a variety of cases, ranging to electrons up to complex molecules. Here I present the first demonstration of single-positrons quantum interference.

DOI
10.1142/9789811213984_0028

Related papers

Antimatter Quantum Interferometry

Marco G. Giammarchi

The wave–particle duality hypothesis for massive particles has been confirmed by an overwhelming variety of indirect experimental evidence. In addition, direct interferometric tests have been made on particles like electrons, neutrons and even a few molecules, explicitly showing wave-like diffraction and interference phenomena. Of particular interest in this direction, single particle interference has also been demonstrated, but only for the electron case. No such kind of direct information was available for antiparticles or antimatter in general. After briefly discussing the subjects of antimatter research and interferometry, I present here the first evidence of single particle antimatter interference, made with positrons.

Symmetry•Oct 5, 2019•1 citation

First demonstration of antimatter wave interferometry

S. Sala, A. Ariga, Antonio Ereditato +5 more

Interference of matter waves is at the heart of quantum physics and has been observed for a wide range of particles from electrons to complex molecules. Here, we demonstrate matter wave interference of single positrons using a period-magnifying Talbot-Lau interferometer based on material diffraction gratings. The system produced high-contrast periodic fringes, which were detected by means of nuclear emulsions capable of determining the impact point of each individual positron with submicrometric resolution. The measured energy dependence of fringe contrast in the range of 8 to 16 keV proves the quantum-mechanical origin of the periodic pattern and excludes classical projective effects, providing the first observation to date of antimatter wave interference. Future applications of this interferometric technique include the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of neutral antimatter systems exploiting the inertial sensing capabilities of Talbot-Lau interference.

Science Advances•May 3, 2019•67 citations

First observation of antimatter wave interference

A. Ariga, Antonio Ereditato, R. Ferragut +5 more

In 1924 Louis de Broglie introduced the concept of wave-particle duality: the Planck constant $h$ relates the momentum $p$ of a massive particle to its de Broglie wavelength $λ=h/p$. The superposition principle is one of the main postulates of quantum mechanics; diffraction and interference phenomena are therefore predicted and have been observed on objects of increasing complexity, from electrons to neutrons and molecules. Beyond the early electron diffraction experiments, the demonstration of single-electron double-slit-like interference was a highly sought-after result. Initially proposed by Richard Feynman as a thought experiment it was finally carried out in 1976. A few years later, positron diffraction was first observed. However, an analog of the double-slit experiment has not been performed to date on any system containing antimatter. Here we present the first observation of matter wave interference of single positrons, by using a period-magnifying Talbot-Lau interferometer based on material diffraction gratings. Individual positrons in the 8-14 keV energy range from a monochromatic beam were detected by high-resolution nuclear emulsions. The observed energy dependence of fringe contrast proves the quantum-mechanical origin of the detected periodic pattern and excludes classical projective effects. Talbot-Lau interferometers are well-suited to the experimental challenges posed by low intensity antimatter beams and represent a promising option for measuring the gravitational acceleration of neutral antimatter.

arXiv:1808.08901•Aug 27, 2018•0 citations

QUPLAS: TOWARDS ANTIMATTER INTERFEROMETRY

S. Sala

Matter-wave interference has been observed for a wide range of objects: from electrons to neutrons and complex molecules. On the other hand, a double-slit-like experiment has never been carried out with positrons (the anti-particle of the electron) or with any other system containing antimatter. This thesis provides the theoretical foundations and experimental results of a Talbot-Lau interferometer specifically designed for this goal. Future applications include the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of positronium, to provide a test of the weak equivalence principle on a matter-antimatter symmetric, purely leptonic system.

•Oct 31, 2018•1 citation

Matter-wave interferometry: towards antimatter interferometers

S. Sala, F. Castelli, Marco G. Giammarchi +2 more

Abstract. We review the main results concerning matter interferometry and discuss the limitations and advantages of different models to describe it. In particular we focus on the possibility to apply these approaches to scenarios involving antimatter, such as positrons and positronium atoms. We investigate many configurations, including the Talbot-Lau interferometer, and discuss in details the results in view of the possible experimental verification. 1.

•Jan 16, 2016•13 citations

An Account of Quantum Interference from a Hydrodynamical Perspective

Quantum interference is ubiquitous to many (if not all) quantum processes and phenomena, for it is a direct manifestation of their inherent coherence. Experiments based on matter wave interferometry [1] constitute very nice empirical evidences of this property. Though the first diffraction experiments were carried out with electrons [2], nowadays the (matter) particles utilized range from large atoms and single molecules [3-6] to very complex, large molecules [7] and Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) [8]. This kind of experiments, apart from confirming the wave nature of matter, has also given rise to important practical applications. For example, sensing, metrology or quantum information processing are potential applications which have motivated in the last few years the remarkable development of BEC interferometry [9-11]. This can be observed in the increasing amount of (theoretical and T&F Cat # K11224, Chapter 13, Page 198, 15-9-2010 experimental) work appearing in the literature [12-18] since the first experimental evidence of interference between two freely expanding BECs [19]. The basic scheme upon which this type of interferometry is based is depicted in Figure 13.1. In the first stage (left), the atomic cloud is cooled down in a magnetic trap until condensation takes place. Then (right), the BEC is split up coherently by means of radio-frequency [16] or microwave fields [17]. Finally, the double-well-like trapping potential [20] is switched off, releasing the two resulting BECs, which will interfere by free expansion (e.g., see Figure 6 of Ref. [18] as an illustration of a real experimental outcome).

CRC Press eBooks•Apr 19, 2016•0 citations
This paper descrives the first experimental evidence of antimatter-wave interference, a process at the heart of Quantum Physics and its interpretation. For the case of ordinary matter particles, interference phenomena have been observed in a variety of cases, ranging to electrons up to complex molecules. Here I present the first demonstration of single-positrons quantum interference.
The wave–particle duality hypothesis for massive particles has been confirmed by an overwhelming variety of indirect experimental evidence. In addition, direct interferometric tests have been made on particles like electrons, neutrons and even a few molecules, explicitly showing wave-like diffraction and interference phenomena. Of particular interest in this direction, single particle interference has also been demonstrated, but only for the electron case. No such kind of direct information was available for antiparticles or antimatter in general. After briefly discussing the subjects of antimatter research and interferometry, I present here the first evidence of single particle antimatter interference, made with positrons.
Interference of matter waves is at the heart of quantum physics and has been observed for a wide range of particles from electrons to complex molecules. Here, we demonstrate matter wave interference of single positrons using a period-magnifying Talbot-Lau interferometer based on material diffraction gratings. The system produced high-contrast periodic fringes, which were detected by means of nuclear emulsions capable of determining the impact point of each individual positron with submicrometric resolution. The measured energy dependence of fringe contrast in the range of 8 to 16 keV proves the quantum-mechanical origin of the periodic pattern and excludes classical projective effects, providing the first observation to date of antimatter wave interference. Future applications of this interferometric technique include the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of neutral antimatter systems exploiting the inertial sensing capabilities of Talbot-Lau interference.
In 1924 Louis de Broglie introduced the concept of wave-particle duality: the Planck constant hhh relates the momentum ppp of a massive particle to its de Broglie wavelength λ=h/pλ=h/pλ=h/p. The superposition principle is one of the main postulates of quantum mechanics; diffraction and interference phenomena are therefore predicted and have been observed on objects of increasing complexity, from electrons to neutrons and molecules. Beyond the early electron diffraction experiments, the demonstration of single-electron double-slit-like interference was a highly sought-after result. Initially proposed by Richard Feynman as a thought experiment it was finally carried out in 1976. A few years later, positron diffraction was first observed. However, an analog of the double-slit experiment has not been performed to date on any system containing antimatter. Here we present the first observation of matter wave interference of single positrons, by using a period-magnifying Talbot-Lau interferometer based on material diffraction gratings. Individual positrons in the 8-14 keV energy range from a monochromatic beam were detected by high-resolution nuclear emulsions. The observed energy dependence of fringe contrast proves the quantum-mechanical origin of the detected periodic pattern and excludes classical projective effects. Talbot-Lau interferometers are well-suited to the experimental challenges posed by low intensity antimatter beams and represent a promising option for measuring the gravitational acceleration of neutral antimatter.
Matter-wave interference has been observed for a wide range of objects: from electrons to neutrons and complex molecules. On the other hand, a double-slit-like experiment has never been carried out with positrons (the anti-particle of the electron) or with any other system containing antimatter. This thesis provides the theoretical foundations and experimental results of a Talbot-Lau interferometer specifically designed for this goal. Future applications include the measurement of the gravitational acceleration of positronium, to provide a test of the weak equivalence principle on a matter-antimatter symmetric, purely leptonic system.
Quantum interference is ubiquitous to many (if not all) quantum processes and phenomena, for it is a direct manifestation of their inherent coherence. Experiments based on matter wave interferometry [1] constitute very nice empirical evidences of this property. Though the first diffraction experiments were carried out with electrons [2], nowadays the (matter) particles utilized range from large atoms and single molecules [3-6] to very complex, large molecules [7] and Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) [8]. This kind of experiments, apart from confirming the wave nature of matter, has also given rise to important practical applications. For example, sensing, metrology or quantum information processing are potential applications which have motivated in the last few years the remarkable development of BEC interferometry [9-11]. This can be observed in the increasing amount of (theoretical and T&F Cat # K11224, Chapter 13, Page 198, 15-9-2010 experimental) work appearing in the literature [12-18] since the first experimental evidence of interference between two freely expanding BECs [19]. The basic scheme upon which this type of interferometry is based is depicted in Figure 13.1. In the first stage (left), the atomic cloud is cooled down in a magnetic trap until condensation takes place. Then (right), the BEC is split up coherently by means of radio-frequency [16] or microwave fields [17]. Finally, the double-well-like trapping potential [20] is switched off, releasing the two resulting BECs, which will interfere by free expansion (e.g., see Figure 6 of Ref. [18] as an illustration of a real experimental outcome).