Single-, double-, and triple-slit diffraction of molecular matter waves

Author(s)
Christian Brand, Stephan Troyer, Christian Knobloch, Ori Cheshnovsky, Markus Arndt
Abstract

Even 100 years after its introduction by Louis de Broglie, the wave-nature of matter is often regarded asa mind-boggling phenomenon. To give an intuitive introduction to this field, we here discuss the diffractionof massive molecules through a single, double, and triple slit, as well as a nanomechanical grating. Whilethe experiments are in good agreement with undergraduate textbook predictions, we also observe pronounceddifferences resulting from the molecules’ mass and internal complexity. The molecules’ polarizability causes anattractive van der Waals interaction with the slit walls, which can be modified by rotating the nanomechanicalmask with respect to the molecular beam. The text is meant to introduce students and teachers to the concepts ofmolecule diffraction, supported by problems and solutions that can be discussed in class

Organisation(s)
Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information
External organisation(s)
Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Tel Aviv University
Journal
American Journal of Physics
Volume
89
Pages
1132-1138
No. of pages
7
ISSN
0002-9505
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0058805
Publication date
2021
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103026 Quantum optics
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Physics and Astronomy(all)
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/single-double-and-tripleslit-diffraction-of-molecular-matter-waves(88db5a74-d181-43a6-818e-06a22b50c0cc).html