Influence of molecular temperature on the coherence of fullerenes in a near-field interferometer

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dc.creatorHornberger, Klaus
dc.creatorHackermueller, Lucia
dc.creatorArndt, Markus
dc.date2004-12-01
dc.date2005-02-04
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T06:11:39Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T06:11:39Z
dc.descriptionWe study C70 fullerene matter waves in a Talbot-Lau interferometer as a function of their temperature. While the ideal fringe visibility is observed at moderate molecular temperatures, we find a gradual degradation of the interference contrast if the molecules are heated before entering the interferometer. A method is developed to assess the distribution of the micro-canonical temperatures of the molecules in free flight. This way the heating-dependent reduction of interference contrast can be compared with the predictions of quantum theory. We find that the observed loss of coherence agrees quantitatively with the expected decoherence rate due to the thermal radiation emitted by the hot molecules.
dc.description11 pages, 9 figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0412003
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0412003
dc.identifierPhys. Rev. A 71, 023601 (2005)
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevA.71.023601
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/92549
dc.subjectQuantum Physics
dc.titleInfluence of molecular temperature on the coherence of fullerenes in a near-field interferometer
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