K. Hornberger | Searcharxiv

arXiv2016

Collisional decoherence of polar molecules

The quantum state of motion of a large and rotating polar molecule can lose coherence through the collisions with gas atoms. We show how the associated quantum master equation for the center of mass can be expressed in terms of the orientationally averaged differential and total scattering cross sections, for which we provide approximate analytic expressions. The master equation is then utilized to quantify collisional decoherence in a interference experiment with polar molecules.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2004

Talbot-Lau interferometry with fullerenes: Sensitivity to inertial forces and vibrational dephasing

We discuss matter wave experiments in a near-field interferometer and focus on dephasing phenomena due to inertial forces. Their presence may result in a significant reduction of the observed interference contrast, even though they do not lead to genuine decoherence. We provide quantitative estimates for the most important effects and demonstrate experimentally the strong influence of acoustic vibrations. Since the effects of inertial forces get increasingly important for the interferometry with more massive particles they have to be identified and compensated in future experiments.

quant-ph↗