Diffracting molecular matter-waves at deep-ultraviolet standing-light waves

Author(s)
Ksenija Simonović, Richard Ferstl, Alfredo Di Silvestro, Marcel Mayor, Lukas Martinetz, Klaus Hornberger, Benjamin A. Stickler, Christian Brand, Markus Arndt
Abstract

Matter-wave interferometry with molecules is intriguing both because it demonstrates a fundamental quantum phenomenon and because it opens avenues to quantum-enhanced measurements in physical chemistry. One great challenge in such experiments is to establish matter-wave beam splitting mechanisms that are efficient and applicable to a wide range of particles. In the past, continuous standing light waves in the visible spectral range were used predominantly as phase gratings, while pulsed vacuum ultraviolet light found applications in photoionization gratings. Here, we explore the regime of continuous, intense deep-ultraviolet (> 1 MW cm−2, 266 nm) light masks, where a rich variety of photo-physical and photo-chemical phenomena and relaxation pathways must be considered. The improved understanding of the mechanisms in this interaction opens new potential pathways to protein interferometry and to matter-wave enhanced sensing of molecular properties.

Organisation(s)
Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information
External organisation(s)
Universität Basel, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universität Ulm, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR)
Journal
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume
26
Pages
27617-27623
No. of pages
7
ISSN
1463-9076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2408.00461
Publication date
11-2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103005 Atomic physics, 103025 Quantum mechanics, 103006 Chemical physics, 103021 Optics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Physics and Astronomy, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/b5256856-754a-4c13-be6c-842e43b99b63