title: Diffraction of complex molecules by structures made of light.
abstract: We demonstrate that structures made of light can be used to coherently control the motion of complex molecules. In particular, we show diffraction of the fullerenes C(60) and C(70) at a thin grating based on a standing light wave. We prove experimentally that the principles of this effect, well known from atom optics, can be successfully extended to massive and large molecules which are internally in a thermodynamic mixed state and which do not exhibit narrow optical resonances. Our results will be important for the observation of quantum interference with even larger and more complex objects.
authors.affiliation: Universität Wien, Institut für Experimentalphysik, Boltzmanngasse 5, A-1090 Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nairz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brezger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeilinger