A universal matter-wave interferometer with optical ionization gratings in the time-domain.

ABSTRACT: Matter-wave interferometry with atoms¹ and molecules² has attracted a rapidly growing interest throughout the last two decades both in demonstrations of fundamental quantum phenomena and in quantum-enhanced precision measurements. Such experiments exploit the non-classical superposition of two or more position and momentum states which are coherently split and rejoined to interfere^3-11. Here, we present the experimental realization of a universal near-field interferometer built from three short-pulse single-photon ionization gratings^12,13. We observe quantum interference of fast molecular clusters, with a composite de Broglie wavelength as small as 275 fm. Optical ionization gratings are largely independent of the specific internal level structur

SUBMITTER: Haslinger P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4430817 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature