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Matter-wave interference of a native polypeptide

Author

Listed:
  • A. Shayeghi

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

  • P. Rieser

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

  • G. Richter

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

  • U. Sezer

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

  • J. H. Rodewald

    (Imperial College London)

  • P. Geyer

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

  • T. J. Martinez

    (Stanford University
    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

  • M. Arndt

    (University of Vienna, VCQ)

Abstract

The de Broglie wave nature of matter is a paradigmatic example of quantum physics and it has been exploited in precision measurements of forces and fundamental constants. However, matter-wave interferometry has remained an outstanding challenge for natural polypeptides, building blocks of life, which are fragile and difficult to handle. Here, we demonstrate the wave nature of gramicidin, a natural antibiotic composed of 15 amino acids. Its center of mass is delocalized over more than 20 times the molecular size in our time-domain Talbot-Lau interferometer. We compare the observed interference fringes with a model that includes both a rigorous treatment of the peptide’s quantum wave nature as well as a quantum chemical assessment of its optical properties to distinguish our result from classical predictions. The realization of quantum optics with this prototypical biomolecule paves the way for quantum-assisted measurements on a large class of biologically relevant molecules.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Shayeghi & P. Rieser & G. Richter & U. Sezer & J. H. Rodewald & P. Geyer & T. J. Martinez & M. Arndt, 2020. "Matter-wave interference of a native polypeptide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15280-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15280-2
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