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Brazilian Journal of Physics

Interferometry with large molecules: exploration of coherence, decoherence and novel beam methods

Markus Arndt, Lucia Hackermüller, Elisabeth Reiger

Published Jun 1, 2005• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum experiments with complex objects are of fundamental interest as they allow to quantitatively trace the quantum-to-classical transition under the influence of various interactions between the quantum object and its environment. We briefly review the present status of matter wave interferometry and decoherence studies with large molecules and focus in particular on the challenges for novel beam methods for molecular quantum optics with clusters, macromolecules or nanocrystals.

DOI
10.1590/s0103-97332005000200004

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Quantum experiments with complex objects are of fundamental interest as they allow to quantitatively trace the quantum-to-classical transition under the influence of various interactions between the quantum object and its environment. We briefly review the present status of matter wave interferometry and decoherence studies with large molecules and focus in particular on the challenges for novel beam methods for molecular quantum optics with clusters, macromolecules or nanocrystals.
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Summary. — This chapter reviews recent experiments on matter wave interferometry with large molecules. Starting from an elementary introduction to matter wave physics we discuss far-field diffraction and near-field interferometry with thermally excited many-body systems. We describe the constraints imposed by decoherence and dephasing effects, and present an outlook to the future challenges in macromolecule and cluster interferometry. PACS 03.75.-b – Matter waves. 1. – Historical introduction and overview The year 1923 is generally considered as the year of birth of matter wave physics. It is the year when Louis de Broglie proposed the idea that each material particle is accompanied by an oscillatory phenomenon [1]. De Broglie based his hypothesis on two discoveries: the energy-frequency equivalence for photons, E = ¯hω, and the energy-mass equivalence for matter, E = mc 2. While the first relation had already been central to Planck’s explanation of the black body spectrum [2] and to Einstein’s analysis of the photo effect [3], the latter was a consequence of Einstein’s theory of special relativity.
Recent progress and future prospects of matter-wave interferometry with complex organic molecules and inorganic clusters are reviewed. Three variants of a near-field interference effect, based on diffraction by material nanostructures, at optical phase gratings, and at ionizing laser fields are considered. The theoretical concepts underlying these experiments and the experimental challenges are discussed. This includes optimizing interferometer designs as well as understanding the role of decoherence. The high sensitivity of matter-wave interference experiments to external perturbations is demonstrated to be useful for accurately measuring internal properties of delocalized nanoparticles. The prospects for probing the quantum superposition principle are investigated in the limit of high particle mass and complexity.
These lecture notes emerged from a contribution to the "Les Houches Summer School, Session CVII - Current Trends in Atomic Physics, July 2016". It is meant to serve students as a guide to a selection of topics that are currently at the focus of molecular quantum optics and complements an earlier lecture on related topics [Arndt et al., 2014]. In this review we discuss recent advances in molecular quantum optics with large organic molecules. In particular, we present successful experiments of molecules of biological importance, such as neurotransmitters and map out the route towards interferometry of large bio-matter such as proteins. The interaction of internally complex molecules with various beam splitters is discussed for both far-field diffraction at a single nanomechanical grating and the Kapitza-Dirac Talbot-Lau near-field interferometer - addressing recent progress, experimental challenges, and prospects for quantum enhanced metrology of highly complex systems in the gas phase. A central part of this review deals with the preparation of slow beams of neutral biomolecules, ranging from a single amino acid to proteins or peptides in a micro-environment.
Interference with atomic and molecular matter waves is a rich branch of atomic physics and quantum optics. It started with atom diffraction from crystal surfaces and the separated oscillatory fields technique used in atomic clocks. Atom interferometry is now reaching maturity as a powerful art with many applications in modern science. In this review the basic tools for coherent atom optics are described including diffraction by nanostructures and laser light, three-grating interferometers, and double wells on atom chips. Scientific advances in a broad range of fields that have resulted from the application of atom interferometers are reviewed. These are grouped in three categories: (i) fundamental quantum science, (ii) precision metrology, and (iii) atomic and molecular physics. Although some experiments with Bose-Einstein condensates are included, the focus of the review is on linear matter wave optics, i.e., phenomena where each single atom interferes with itself.