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Matter-wave interferometry: towards antimatter interferometers

S. Sala, F. Castelli, Marco G. Giammarchi, Stefano Siccardi, Stefano Olivares

Published Jan 16, 2016• 13 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

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.

Related papers

Matter-wave interferometry: towards antimatter interferometers

Simone Sala, Fabrizio Castelli, Marco Giammarchi +2 more

Abstract Starting from an elementary model and refining it to take into account more realistic effects, we discuss the limitations and advantages of matter-wave interferometry in different configurations. We focus on the possibility to apply this approach to scenarios involving antimatter, such as positrons and positronium atoms. In particular, we investigate the Talbot–Lau interferometer with material gratings and discuss in details the results in view of the possible experimental verification.

arXiv:1505.01639•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Aug 13, 2015•13 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

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

Atom Interferometry

Peter Hannaford

Matter - wave interferometry began with the development of electron interferometers and neutron interferometers in the 1950s and 1960s, but it wasn't until 1991 that the first atom matter - wave interferometer was realized. This was followed by a surge of activity sparked by the advent of sources of ultracold laser-cooled atoms. Some of the potential advantages of atom interferometry over neutron interferometry include: much higher particle fluxes, lower particle velocities, larger particle masses, particles with internal states, and laboratory-based sources. This volume is the first text on atom interferometry. It consists of ten comprehensive review articles by leading researchers in the field, many of whom pioneered the first atom interferometers in 1991. The articles describe the different types of atom interferometers developed to date, ranging from the three-grating Mach - Zehnder interferometer based on nanofabricated grating structures (MIT) or standing-wave light-field gratings (Innsbruck), to the Talbot - Lau atom interferometer (Berkeley and Michigan), to atom interferometers based on internal-state labelling such as separated light-field interferometers (PTB, Hannover and Paris-Nord) and light-pulse interferometers (Stanford). Some of the recent applications of atom interferometry described in the articles include high precision measurements of rotations, the gravitational acceleration, and the fine structure constant (Stanford); measurements of topological phases (PTB and Hannover); correlation experiments with atoms and photons (Konstanz) and with pairs of atoms (Tokyo); holographic manipulation of atoms (Tokyo); and experiments on the quantum theory of measurement (Garching, Harvard and Texas A&M). In summary, this volume provides an excellent up-to-date account of atom interferometry and is recommended as essential reading for all researchers and would-be researchers in the field. At the same time it contains sufficient background material and theory to serve as an excellent introduction for the non-specialist. The field is presently moving at such a rapid pace, however, that many of the latest results reported in this volume will already have been superseded by the time it reaches the library shelves.

Measurement Science and Technology•Sep 1, 1997•1 citation

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

Exploration of matter wave interferometry in the Talbot-Lau design

Xiaxi Cheng

In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden zwei Materiewellen-Interferometer vorgestellt, das Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der University of Southampton und das Kapitza- Dirac-Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der Universität Wien. Diese Arbeit umfasst den Aufbau eines Talbot-Lau Interferometers mit drei materiellen Gittern an der University of Southampton. Die Flugzeit Technik wird angewendet, um zufünftige Interferenzmessungen zu ermöglichen. In dem Kapitza-Dirac-Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der Universität Wien ist das mittlere materielle Gitter durch ein optisches Phasengitter ersetzt. Wir konnten damit absolute Absorptionsquerschnitte messen und damit eine neue Anwendung von Materiewellen zeigen.

•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations
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.
Abstract Starting from an elementary model and refining it to take into account more realistic effects, we discuss the limitations and advantages of matter-wave interferometry in different configurations. We focus on the possibility to apply this approach to scenarios involving antimatter, such as positrons and positronium atoms. In particular, we investigate the Talbot–Lau interferometer with material gratings and discuss in details the results in view of the possible experimental verification.
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.
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.
Matter - wave interferometry began with the development of electron interferometers and neutron interferometers in the 1950s and 1960s, but it wasn't until 1991 that the first atom matter - wave interferometer was realized. This was followed by a surge of activity sparked by the advent of sources of ultracold laser-cooled atoms. Some of the potential advantages of atom interferometry over neutron interferometry include: much higher particle fluxes, lower particle velocities, larger particle masses, particles with internal states, and laboratory-based sources. This volume is the first text on atom interferometry. It consists of ten comprehensive review articles by leading researchers in the field, many of whom pioneered the first atom interferometers in 1991. The articles describe the different types of atom interferometers developed to date, ranging from the three-grating Mach - Zehnder interferometer based on nanofabricated grating structures (MIT) or standing-wave light-field gratings (Innsbruck), to the Talbot - Lau atom interferometer (Berkeley and Michigan), to atom interferometers based on internal-state labelling such as separated light-field interferometers (PTB, Hannover and Paris-Nord) and light-pulse interferometers (Stanford). Some of the recent applications of atom interferometry described in the articles include high precision measurements of rotations, the gravitational acceleration, and the fine structure constant (Stanford); measurements of topological phases (PTB and Hannover); correlation experiments with atoms and photons (Konstanz) and with pairs of atoms (Tokyo); holographic manipulation of atoms (Tokyo); and experiments on the quantum theory of measurement (Garching, Harvard and Texas A&M). In summary, this volume provides an excellent up-to-date account of atom interferometry and is recommended as essential reading for all researchers and would-be researchers in the field. At the same time it contains sufficient background material and theory to serve as an excellent introduction for the non-specialist. The field is presently moving at such a rapid pace, however, that many of the latest results reported in this volume will already have been superseded by the time it reaches the library shelves.
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.
In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden zwei Materiewellen-Interferometer vorgestellt, das Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der University of Southampton und das Kapitza- Dirac-Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der Universität Wien. Diese Arbeit umfasst den Aufbau eines Talbot-Lau Interferometers mit drei materiellen Gittern an der University of Southampton. Die Flugzeit Technik wird angewendet, um zufünftige Interferenzmessungen zu ermöglichen. In dem Kapitza-Dirac-Talbot-Lau Interferometer an der Universität Wien ist das mittlere materielle Gitter durch ein optisches Phasengitter ersetzt. Wir konnten damit absolute Absorptionsquerschnitte messen und damit eine neue Anwendung von Materiewellen zeigen.