Analysis of the loss of coherence in interferometry with macromolecules

Abstract

We provide a self-contained quantum description of the interference produced by macromolecules diffracted by a grating, with particular reference to fullerene interferometry experiments. We analyze the processes inducing loss of coherence consisting in beam preparation (collimation setup and thermal spread of the wavelengths of the macromolecules) and in environmental disturbances. The results show a good agreement with experimental data published by Zeilinger's group and highlight the analogy with optics. Our analysis gives some hints for planning future experiments.

20 pages LaTeX, 8 figures

References in corpus (14)

• Quantum Equilibrium and the Origin of Absolute Uncertainty
• Matter-wave interferometer for large molecules
• Collisional decoherence observed in matter wave interferometry
• Determination of Atom-Surface van der Waals Potentials from Transmission-Grating Diffraction Intensities
• Collisional decoherence reexamined
• A search for a border between classical and quantum worlds
• Seven Steps Towards the Classical World
• Test Particle in a Quantum Gas
• Translation-covariant Markovian master equation for a test particle in a quantum fluid
• Young's experiment and the finiteness of information
• On the Flux-Across-Surfaces Theorem
• Time of Arrival from Bohmian Flow
• Scattering theory from microscopic first principles
• Intrinsic decoherence in atomic diffraction by standing light wave

Cited by in corpus (21)

• Quantum linear Boltzmann equation
• Theory of decoherence in a matter wave Talbot-Lau interferometer
• Influence of molecular temperature on the coherence of fullerenes in a near-field interferometer
• A quantum trajectory description of decoherence
• Loss of coherence in double-slit diffraction experiments
• Master-equations for the study of decoherence
• Thermal limitation of far-field matter-wave interference
• Gouy phase in non-classical paths in triple-slit interference experiment
• Can the double-slit experiment distinguish between quantum interpretations?
• Matter-wave interferometry: towards antimatter interferometers
• Reduced coherence in double-slit diffraction of neutrons
• Dispersion and uncertainty in multislit matter wave diffraction
• Enhancing Gaussian quantum metrology with position-momentum correlations
• Ramsey interferometry as a witness of acceleration radiation
• Poisson's spot and Gouy phase
• Double-slit experiment revisited
• Visibility Fringe Reduction Due to Noise-Induced Effects: Microscopic Approach to Interference Experiments
• Decoherence in a Two Slit Diffraction Experiment with Massive Particles
• Quantum Theory Approach for Neutron Single and Double-Slit Diffraction
• Sorkin parameter for type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion biphotons and matter waves
• A study on quantum mechanical approach for $C_{60}$ diffraction analysis