Nanoscale Magnetism Probed in a Matter-Wave Interferometer

Fein, Yaakov Y.; Pedalino, Sebastian; Shayeghi, Armin; Kiałka, Filip; Gerlich, Stefan; Arndt, Markus

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.129.123001

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Magnetic experiments have been carried out with large atomic clusters, and nano-size particles. [32,33] However, in such experiments the magnetic moment of the atomic cluster is also large, and the space quantization may not be apparent. The experiment has to be performed with spin-1/2 particles in the macroscopic domain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of Classicality in Stern–Gerlach Experiment via Self‐Gravity

2023

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Emergence of classicality from quantum mechanics, a hotly debated topic, has had no satisfactory resolution so far. Various approaches including decoherence and gravitational interactions have been suggested. In the present work, the Schrödinger–Newton model is used to study the role of semi‐classical self‐gravity in the evolution of massive spin‐1/2 particles in a Stern‐Gerlach experiment. For small mass, evolution of the initial wavepacket in a spin superposition shows a splitting in the magnetic field gradient into two trajectories as in the standard Stern–Gerlach experiment. For larger mass, the deviations from the central path are less than in the standard Stern–Gerlach case, while for high enough mass, the wavepacket does not split, and instead follows the classical trajectory for a magnetic moment in inhomogeneous magnetic field. This indicates the emergence of classicality due to self‐gravitational interaction when the mass is increased. In contrast, decoherence which is a strong contender for emergence of classicality, leads to a mixed state of two trajectories corresponding to the spin‐up and spin‐down states, and not the classically expected path. The classically expected path of the particle probably cannot be explained even in the many‐worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. Stern–Gerlach experiments in the macroscopic domain are needed to settle this question.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergence of Classicality in Stern–Gerlach Experiment via Self‐Gravity

2023

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“…[17][18][19][20] Long-Baseline Universal Matter-wave Interferometer: The Long-Baseline Universal Matter-wave Interferometer (LUMI) in Vienna is a three-grating Talbot-Lau interferometer, which started as a 10-fold extension of the Kapitza-Dirac-Talbot-Lau interferometer, with a grating separation of L = 1 m. This instrument handled a large variety of different particle classes, from alkali and alkali earth atoms 21 over vitamins 22 and tripeptides, 23 polar and non-polar molecules 16 to molecular radicals. 24 Recently, LUMI has been used to demonstrate quantum interference of molecules consisting of up to 2000 atoms and with masses up to 28.000 u. 25 All those experiments started from natural or synthetic molecules, naturally predefined nanostructures.…”

Section: Interferometer Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental challenges for high-mass matter-wave interference with nanoparticles

Pedalino¹,

Galindo²,

Sousa³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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We discuss recent advances towards matter-wave interference experiments with free beams of metallic and dielectric nanoparticles. They require a brilliant source, an efficient detection scheme and a coherent method to divide the de Broglie waves associated with these clusters: We describe an approach based on a magnetron sputtering source which ejects an intense cluster beam with a wide mass dispersion but a small velocity spread of ∆v/v < 10%. The source is universal as it can be used with all conducting and many semiconducting or even insulating materials. Here we focus on metals and dielectrics with a low work function of the bulk and thus a low cluster ionization energy. This allows us to realize photoionization gratings as coherent matter-wave beam splitters and also to realize an efficient ionization detection scheme. These new methods are now combined in an upgraded Talbot-Lau interferometer with three 266 nm depletion gratings. We here describe the experimental boundary conditions and how to realize them in the lab. This next generation of near-field interferometers shall allow us to soon push the limits of matter-wave interference to masses up to 10 6 amu.

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Section: Talbot-lau Interferometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental challenges for high-mass matter-wave interference with nanoparticles

Pedalino

Galindo²,

Sousa³

et al. 2023

Quantum Sensing, Imaging, and Precision Metrology

Self Cite

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We discuss recent advances towards matter-wave interference experiments with free beams of metallic and dielectric nanoparticles. They require a brilliant source, an efficient detection scheme and a coherent method to divide the de Broglie waves associated with these clusters: We describe an approach based on a magnetron sputtering source which ejects an intense cluster beam with a wide mass dispersion but a small velocity spread of Δv/v < 10%. The source is universal as it can be used with all conducting and many semiconducting or even insulating materials. Here we focus on metals and dielectrics with a low work function of the bulk and thus a low cluster ionization energy. This allows us to realize photoionization gratings as coherent matter-wave beam splitters and also to realize an efficient ionization detection scheme. These new methods are now combined in an upgraded Talbot-Lau interferometer with three 266 nm depletion gratings. We here describe the experimental boundary conditions and how to realize them in the lab. This next generation of near-field interferometers shall allow us to soon push the limits of matter-wave interference to masses up to 10 6 amu.

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Nanoscale Magnetism Probed in a Matter-Wave Interferometer

Cited by 8 publications

References 47 publications

Emergence of Classicality in Stern–Gerlach Experiment via Self‐Gravity

Emergence of Classicality in Stern–Gerlach Experiment via Self‐Gravity

Experimental challenges for high-mass matter-wave interference with nanoparticles

Experimental challenges for high-mass matter-wave interference with nanoparticles

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