Speaker
Dr
Lucia Hackermuller
(Johannes-Gutenberg University Mayence)
Description
We use a near field interferometer of Talbot-Lau type to investigate the
wave particle duality of large molecules such as C70 fullerenes. This
device is also well suited to study the quantum-to-classical transition
via decoherence mechanisms that occur quite naturally in such an
interferometer. Interactions of the interfering particle with the
surrounding environment lead to a collapse of the wave function and to a
loss of the observed interference contrast in the following. In
particular we study decoherence by collisions with various background
gas particles as well as decoherence of very hot molecules by
spontaneous emission of thermal photons. We complete our study by
measuring the influence of mechanical vibrations on the interference
contrast. Our measurements allow us to estimate how large molecules from
proteins up to small viruses will be affected by decoherence and make
predictions about the experimental requirements to show interference.
