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Springer eBooks

Otto Stern’s Legacy in Quantum Optics: Matter Waves and Deflectometry

Stefan Gerlich, Yaakov Y. Fein, Armin Shayeghi, Valentin Köhler, Marcel Mayor, Markus Arndt

Published Jan 1, 2021• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract Otto Stern became famous for molecular beam physics, matter-wave research and the discovery of the electron spin, with his work guiding several generations of physicists and chemists. Here we discuss how his legacy has inspired the realization of universal interferometers, which prepare matter waves from atomic, molecular, cluster or eventually nanoparticle beams. Such universal interferometers have proven to be sensitive tools for quantum-assisted force measurements, building on Stern’s pioneering work on electric and magnetic deflectometry. The controlled shift and dephasing of interference fringes by external electric, magnetic or optical fields have been used to determine internal properties of a vast class of particles in a unified experimental framework.

DOI
10.1007/978-3-030-63963-1_24

Related papers

Otto Stern’s Molecular Beam Method and Its Impact on Quantum Physics

Břetislav Friedrich, H. Schmidt‐Böcking

Abstract Motivated by his interest in thermodynamics and the emerging quantum mechanics, Otto Stern (1888–1969) launched in 1919 his molecular beam method to examine the fundamental assumptions of theory that transpire in atomic, molecular, optical, and nuclear physics. Stern’s experimental endeavors at Frankfurt (1919–1922), Hamburg (1923–1933), and Pittsburgh (1933–1945) provided insights into the quantum world that were independent of spectroscopy and that concerned well-defined isolated systems, hitherto accessible only toGedankenexperiments. In this chapter we look at how Stern’s molecular beam research came about and review six of his seminal experiments along with their context and reception by the physics community: the Stern-Gerlach experiment; the three-stage Stern-Gerlach experiment; experimental evidence for de Broglie’s matter waves; measurements of the magnetic dipole moment of the proton and the deuteron; experimental demonstration of momentum transfer upon absorption or emission of a photon; the experimental verification of the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution via deflection of a molecular beam by gravity. Regarded as paragons of thoroughness and ingenuity, these experiments entail accurate transversal momentum measurements with resolution better than 0.1 atomic units. Some of these experiments would be taken up by others where Stern left off only decades later (matter-wave scattering or photon momentum transfer). We conclude by highlighting aspects of Stern’s legacy as reflected by the honors that have been bestowed upon him to date.

Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 2021•6 citations

Grating Diffraction of Molecular Beams: Present Day Implementations of Otto Stern’s Concept

Wieland Schöllkopf

Abstract When Otto Stern embarked on molecular-beam experiments in his new lab at Hamburg University a century ago, one of his interests was to demonstrate the wave-nature of atoms and molecules that had been predicted shortly before by Louis de Broglie. As the effects of diffraction and interference provide conclusive evidence for wave-type behavior, Otto Stern and his coworkers conceived two matter-wave diffraction experiments employing their innovative molecular-beam method. The first concept assumed the molecular ray to coherently scatter off a plane ruled grating at grazing incidence conditions, while the second one was based on the coherent scattering from a cleaved crystal surface. The latter concept allowed Stern and his associates to demonstrate the wave behavior of atoms and molecules and to validate de Broglie’s formula. The former experiment, however, fell short of providing evidence for diffraction of matter waves. It was not until 2007 that the grating diffraction experiment was retried with a modern molecular-beam apparatus. Fully resolved matter-wave diffraction patterns were observed, confirming the viability of Otto Stern’s experimental concept. The correct explanation of the experiment accounts for quantum reflection, another wave effect incompatible with the particle picture, which was not foreseen by Stern and his contemporaries.

Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 2021•1 citation

Otto Stern and Wave-Particle Duality

Jan Peter Toennies

Abstract The contributions of Otto Stern to the discovery of wave-particle duality of matter particles predicted by de Broglie are reviewed. After a short introduction to the early matter-vs-wave ideas about light, the events are highlighted which lead to de Broglie’s idea that all particles, also massive particles, should exhibit wave behavior with a wavelength inversely proportional to their mass. The first confirming experimental evidence came for electrons from the diffraction experiments of Davisson and Germer and those of Thomson. The first demonstration for atoms, with three orders of magnitude smaller wave lengths, came from Otto Stern’s laboratory shortly afterwards in 1929 in a remarkabletour de forceexperiment. After Stern’s forced departure from Hamburg in 1933 it took more than 40 years to reach a similar level of experimental perfection as achieved then in Stern’s laboratory. Today He atom diffraction is a powerful tool for studying the atomic and electronic structure and dynamics of surfaces. With the advent of nanotechnology nanoscopic transmission gratings have led to many new applications of matter waves in chemistry and physics, which are illustrated with a few examples and described in more detail in the following chapters.

Springer eBooks•Jan 1, 2021•1 citation

Electron matter optics of the Aharonov-Bohm and Stern-Gerlach effects

Scot McGregor

Since the advent of quantum mechanics and the idea that massive particles exhibit wave properties, physicists have made efforts to make use of the short deBroglie wave length of matter waves for fundamental as well as practical studies. Among these are the precise measurements allowed by interference, diffraction, and microscopy as well as the study of more fundamental aspects of quantum theory such as the Aharonov-Bohm effects or the Stern-Gerlach effect, which are described below. However, in order to use matter waves to observe any of these effects it is necessary to produce and maintain coherence in the waves which are used for measurement. With a grasp of what coherence is and how it may be achieved and maintained one can move forward to study the interesting phenomena associated with coherent matter waves. More specifically in this work the interference and diffraction of electron matter waves are considered. The phenomena under consideration are those associated with the interaction of the electric charge and magnetic dipole moment of the electron with external fields and potentials while in the process of interfering or diffracting. Namely the focus of this dissertation is the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the Aharonov-Casher effect, and the Stern-Gerlach effect. Additionally, a wide-angle electron beam-splitter capable of producing two centimeter beam separation at the detection plane is discussed. The beam-splitter utilizes a nanofabricated periodic grating in combination with a bi-prism element. Contrary to devices utilizing only bi-prism elements, the use of the periodic grating causes amplitude, and not wave front, splitting. Even at maximum separation, beam profiles remain undistorted, providing evidence that coherence is intact. This is a step towards the realization of a large area electron interferometer using such a grating bi-prism combination. Such an interferometer could, in principle, be used to test the dispersionless nature of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Work towards such an interferometer and possible future work are also discussed. Advisor: Herman Batelaan

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations

Universal matter-wave interferometry as a sensor in atomic physics and physical chemistry

Yaakov Y. Fein, Stefan Gerlich, Armin Shayeghi +5 more

We review the concept of matter-wave assisted molecule metrology and present the most recent experiments which exploit the capability of universal matter-wave interferometers to measure forces as small as 10-26 N via shifts of the interference fringes in the presence of well-controlled fields. This technique allows us to compare, in the same instrument, a variety of electronic and magnetic properties for a large range of atoms and molecules. We exemplify this here with precision measurements of the static polarizability of cesium atoms and the fullerenes C60 and C70 as well as dynamically-induced susceptibilities of tailored tripeptides. We also present measurements of magnetic properties such as the diamagnetic susceptibility of ground-state atoms and aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons.

Optical and Quantum Sensing and Precision Metrology•Mar 4, 2021•0 citations

Matter wave interferometry: Exploring the importance of the internal molecular properties

Sandra Eibenberger, Stefan Gerlich, Mathias Tomandl +5 more

We discuss new de Broglie coherence experiments in a near-field molecule interferometer with a variety of large organic molecules. While de Broglie coherence is to first order only associated with the center-of-mass motion of the diffracted particle, we here investigate the question as to which extent the internal molecular property is relevant for, compatible with or detrimental for maintaining coherence in the translational degree of freedom. External perturbations, such as inhomogeneous external electric fields, may influence the delocalized molecules inside the matter wave interferometer and they allow us to access the molecular polarizabilities, permanent or even fluctuating electric dipole moments. We extract information about the molecular states from the interference phase shifts as well as from the observed dephasing in a Kapitza-Dirac Talbot-Lau-Stark-deflectometer. We discuss the relevance of our experiments with regard to both molecule metrology and the foundations of quantum mechanics, i.e. the preservation of coherence for highly complex particles in external fields.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•May 1, 2011•0 citations
Abstract Otto Stern became famous for molecular beam physics, matter-wave research and the discovery of the electron spin, with his work guiding several generations of physicists and chemists. Here we discuss how his legacy has inspired the realization of universal interferometers, which prepare matter waves from atomic, molecular, cluster or eventually nanoparticle beams. Such universal interferometers have proven to be sensitive tools for quantum-assisted force measurements, building on Stern’s pioneering work on electric and magnetic deflectometry. The controlled shift and dephasing of interference fringes by external electric, magnetic or optical fields have been used to determine internal properties of a vast class of particles in a unified experimental framework.
Abstract Motivated by his interest in thermodynamics and the emerging quantum mechanics, Otto Stern (1888–1969) launched in 1919 his molecular beam method to examine the fundamental assumptions of theory that transpire in atomic, molecular, optical, and nuclear physics. Stern’s experimental endeavors at Frankfurt (1919–1922), Hamburg (1923–1933), and Pittsburgh (1933–1945) provided insights into the quantum world that were independent of spectroscopy and that concerned well-defined isolated systems, hitherto accessible only toGedankenexperiments. In this chapter we look at how Stern’s molecular beam research came about and review six of his seminal experiments along with their context and reception by the physics community: the Stern-Gerlach experiment; the three-stage Stern-Gerlach experiment; experimental evidence for de Broglie’s matter waves; measurements of the magnetic dipole moment of the proton and the deuteron; experimental demonstration of momentum transfer upon absorption or emission of a photon; the experimental verification of the Maxwell-Boltzmann velocity distribution via deflection of a molecular beam by gravity. Regarded as paragons of thoroughness and ingenuity, these experiments entail accurate transversal momentum measurements with resolution better than 0.1 atomic units. Some of these experiments would be taken up by others where Stern left off only decades later (matter-wave scattering or photon momentum transfer). We conclude by highlighting aspects of Stern’s legacy as reflected by the honors that have been bestowed upon him to date.
Abstract When Otto Stern embarked on molecular-beam experiments in his new lab at Hamburg University a century ago, one of his interests was to demonstrate the wave-nature of atoms and molecules that had been predicted shortly before by Louis de Broglie. As the effects of diffraction and interference provide conclusive evidence for wave-type behavior, Otto Stern and his coworkers conceived two matter-wave diffraction experiments employing their innovative molecular-beam method. The first concept assumed the molecular ray to coherently scatter off a plane ruled grating at grazing incidence conditions, while the second one was based on the coherent scattering from a cleaved crystal surface. The latter concept allowed Stern and his associates to demonstrate the wave behavior of atoms and molecules and to validate de Broglie’s formula. The former experiment, however, fell short of providing evidence for diffraction of matter waves. It was not until 2007 that the grating diffraction experiment was retried with a modern molecular-beam apparatus. Fully resolved matter-wave diffraction patterns were observed, confirming the viability of Otto Stern’s experimental concept. The correct explanation of the experiment accounts for quantum reflection, another wave effect incompatible with the particle picture, which was not foreseen by Stern and his contemporaries.
Abstract The contributions of Otto Stern to the discovery of wave-particle duality of matter particles predicted by de Broglie are reviewed. After a short introduction to the early matter-vs-wave ideas about light, the events are highlighted which lead to de Broglie’s idea that all particles, also massive particles, should exhibit wave behavior with a wavelength inversely proportional to their mass. The first confirming experimental evidence came for electrons from the diffraction experiments of Davisson and Germer and those of Thomson. The first demonstration for atoms, with three orders of magnitude smaller wave lengths, came from Otto Stern’s laboratory shortly afterwards in 1929 in a remarkabletour de forceexperiment. After Stern’s forced departure from Hamburg in 1933 it took more than 40 years to reach a similar level of experimental perfection as achieved then in Stern’s laboratory. Today He atom diffraction is a powerful tool for studying the atomic and electronic structure and dynamics of surfaces. With the advent of nanotechnology nanoscopic transmission gratings have led to many new applications of matter waves in chemistry and physics, which are illustrated with a few examples and described in more detail in the following chapters.
Since the advent of quantum mechanics and the idea that massive particles exhibit wave properties, physicists have made efforts to make use of the short deBroglie wave length of matter waves for fundamental as well as practical studies. Among these are the precise measurements allowed by interference, diffraction, and microscopy as well as the study of more fundamental aspects of quantum theory such as the Aharonov-Bohm effects or the Stern-Gerlach effect, which are described below. However, in order to use matter waves to observe any of these effects it is necessary to produce and maintain coherence in the waves which are used for measurement. With a grasp of what coherence is and how it may be achieved and maintained one can move forward to study the interesting phenomena associated with coherent matter waves. More specifically in this work the interference and diffraction of electron matter waves are considered. The phenomena under consideration are those associated with the interaction of the electric charge and magnetic dipole moment of the electron with external fields and potentials while in the process of interfering or diffracting. Namely the focus of this dissertation is the Aharonov-Bohm effect, the Aharonov-Casher effect, and the Stern-Gerlach effect. Additionally, a wide-angle electron beam-splitter capable of producing two centimeter beam separation at the detection plane is discussed. The beam-splitter utilizes a nanofabricated periodic grating in combination with a bi-prism element. Contrary to devices utilizing only bi-prism elements, the use of the periodic grating causes amplitude, and not wave front, splitting. Even at maximum separation, beam profiles remain undistorted, providing evidence that coherence is intact. This is a step towards the realization of a large area electron interferometer using such a grating bi-prism combination. Such an interferometer could, in principle, be used to test the dispersionless nature of the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Work towards such an interferometer and possible future work are also discussed. Advisor: Herman Batelaan
We review the concept of matter-wave assisted molecule metrology and present the most recent experiments which exploit the capability of universal matter-wave interferometers to measure forces as small as 10-26 N via shifts of the interference fringes in the presence of well-controlled fields. This technique allows us to compare, in the same instrument, a variety of electronic and magnetic properties for a large range of atoms and molecules. We exemplify this here with precision measurements of the static polarizability of cesium atoms and the fullerenes C60 and C70 as well as dynamically-induced susceptibilities of tailored tripeptides. We also present measurements of magnetic properties such as the diamagnetic susceptibility of ground-state atoms and aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons.
We discuss new de Broglie coherence experiments in a near-field molecule interferometer with a variety of large organic molecules. While de Broglie coherence is to first order only associated with the center-of-mass motion of the diffracted particle, we here investigate the question as to which extent the internal molecular property is relevant for, compatible with or detrimental for maintaining coherence in the translational degree of freedom. External perturbations, such as inhomogeneous external electric fields, may influence the delocalized molecules inside the matter wave interferometer and they allow us to access the molecular polarizabilities, permanent or even fluctuating electric dipole moments. We extract information about the molecular states from the interference phase shifts as well as from the observed dephasing in a Kapitza-Dirac Talbot-Lau-Stark-deflectometer. We discuss the relevance of our experiments with regard to both molecule metrology and the foundations of quantum mechanics, i.e. the preservation of coherence for highly complex particles in external fields.