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
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/88db5a74-d181-43a6-818e-06a22b50c0cc