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New Journal of Physics

Quantum carpets: a tool to observe decoherence

P Kazemi, S. Chaturvedi, Irene Marzoli, Robert F. O’Connell, W. P. Schleich

Published Jan 21, 2013• 24 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum carpets—the spatio-temporal de Broglie density profiles—woven by an atom or an electron in the near-field region of a diffraction grating bring to light, in real time, the decoherence of each individual component of the interference term of the Wigner function characteristic of superposition states. The proposed experiments are feasible with present-day technology.

DOI
10.1088/1367-2630/15/1/013052

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Quantum carpets—the spatio-temporal de Broglie density profiles—woven by an atom or an electron in the near-field region of a diffraction grating bring to light, in real time, the decoherence of each individual component of the interference term of the Wigner function characteristic of superposition states. The proposed experiments are feasible with present-day technology.
A well-known phenomenon in both optics and quantum mechanics is the so-called Talbot effect. This near field interference effect arises when infinitely periodic diffracting structures or gratings are illuminated by highly coherent light or particle beams. Typical diffraction patterns known as quantum carpets are then observed. Here the authors provide an insightful picture of this nonlocal phenomenon as well as its classical limit in terms of Bohmian mechanics, also showing the causal reasons and conditions that explain its appearance. As an illustration, theoretical results obtained from diffraction of thermal He atoms by both N-slit arrays and weak corrugated surfaces are analyzed and discussed. Moreover, the authors also explain in terms of what they call the Talbot-Beeby effect how realistic interaction potentials induce shifts and distortions in the corresponding quantum carpets.
Talbot and Talbot-Lau effects are frequently used in lensless imaging applications with light, ultrasound, x-rays, atoms and molecules--generally in situations where refractive optical elements are non-existent or not suitable. We here show an experimental visualization of the intriguing wave patterns that are associated with near-field interferometry behind a single periodic diffraction grating under plane wave illumination and which are often referred to as Talbot carpets or quantum carpets. We also show the patterns behind two separated diffraction gratings under nearly-monochromatic but spatially incoherent illumination that illustrate the nature of Talbot-Lau carpets.