0110012v1

related topics
{wave, scattering, interference}
{photon, photons, single}
{light, field, probe}
{cavity, atom, atoms}
{trap, ion, state}
{spin, pulse, spins}
{temperature, thermal, energy}
{level, atom, field}

Diffraction of complex molecules by structures made of light

Olaf Nairz, Björn Brezger, Markus Arndt, Anton Zeilinger

abstract: We demonstrate that structures made of light can be used to coherently control the motion of complex molecules. In particular, we show diffraction of the fullerenes C60 and C70 at a thin grating based on a standing light wave. We prove experimentally that the principles of this effect, well known from atom optics, can be successfully extended to massive and large molecules which are internally in a thermodynamic mixed state and which do not exhibit narrow optical resonances. Our results will be important for the observation of quantum interference with even larger and more complex objects.

oai_identifier:
oai:arXiv.org:quant-ph/0110012
categories:
quant-ph
comments:
4 pages, 3 figures
doi:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.160401
arxiv_id:
quant-ph/0110012
journal_ref:
Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 160401 (2001)
created:
2001-10-02

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