title: Quantum interference of large organic molecules.
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 λ(dB)=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.
authors.affiliation: University of Vienna, Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology, VCQ, Faculty of Physics, Boltzmanngasse 5, Vienna 1090, Austria.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerlich
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eibenberger
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomandl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nimmrichter
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hornberger
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tüxen
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arndt