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Quantum interference of large organic molecules

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Gerlich

    (University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics)

  • Sandra Eibenberger

    (University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics)

  • Mathias Tomandl

    (University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics)

  • Stefan Nimmrichter

    (University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics)

  • Klaus Hornberger

    (Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems)

  • Paul J. Fagan

    (E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. Inc., Experimental Station)

  • Jens Tüxen

    (University of Basel)

  • Marcel Mayor

    (University of Basel
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Nanotechnology)

  • Markus Arndt

    (University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics)

Abstract

The wave nature of matter is a key ingredient of quantum physics and yet it defies our classical intuition. First proposed by Louis de Broglie a century ago, it has since been confirmed with a variety of particles from electrons up to molecules. Here we demonstrate new high-contrast quantum experiments with large and massive tailor-made organic molecules in a near-field interferometer. Our experiments prove the quantum wave nature and delocalization of compounds composed of up to 430 atoms, with a maximal size of up to 60 Å, masses up to m=6,910 AMU and de Broglie wavelengths down to λdB=h/mv≃1 pm. We show that even complex systems, with more than 1,000 internal degrees of freedom, can be prepared in quantum states that are sufficiently well isolated from their environment to avoid decoherence and to show almost perfect coherence.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Gerlich & Sandra Eibenberger & Mathias Tomandl & Stefan Nimmrichter & Klaus Hornberger & Paul J. Fagan & Jens Tüxen & Marcel Mayor & Markus Arndt, 2011. "Quantum interference of large organic molecules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1263
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1263
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    Cited by:

    1. Jonathan Oppenheim & Carlo Sparaciari & Barbara Šoda & Zachary Weller-Davies, 2023. "Gravitationally induced decoherence vs space-time diffusion: testing the quantum nature of gravity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Haonan Wang & Heejun Kim & Duanfei Dong & Keisuke Shinokita & Kenji Watanabe & Takashi Taniguchi & Kazunari Matsuda, 2024. "Quantum coherence and interference of a single moiré exciton in nano-fabricated twisted monolayer semiconductor heterobilayers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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