Molecule interferometry
Speaker: Hendrik Ulbricht, University of Southampton, Physics and Astronomy
Date: 19 January
Time: 2pm
Venue: Mountbatten Seminar Room
Abstract:
I will report on molecule interferometry experiments. The motivation for de Broglie interference of heavy particles is both, to the foundations of quantum mechancis by invesitgating the quantum to classical transitions and the use of interferometric techniques for applications as for example: molecule metrology, molecule sorting, molecule quantum interference lithography and investigations of van der Walls/Casimir-Polder interactions. The centre-of-mass interferometry is not affected by internal excitation of the molecules as impressively demonstrated by our experiments. If however internal state dynamics is coupled to the centre-of-mass motion by electric or optical fields, the interference pattern is changed. I will explain our experiment on mapping the conformational change of hot molecules to its centre of mass motion. Cooling the motion and manipulation of complex partciles to increase beam coherences and phase-space density and decreacing speed is essential for interference expeirments and I will illustrate ideas and preliminary experimental results for possible cooling and decelleration schemes for large particles. I will emphasise the status of the develpoment of the Southampton molecule interferometer.
Biography:
with Oct 2008 |
Reader at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southampton, UK |
2006 - 2008 |
Senior researcher and Universitaetsassistent at University of Vienna, with Markus Arndt, Matter- wave interferometry, Molecule metrology |
2005 - 2006 |
Senior - Postdoc at University of Vienna, with Markus Arndt. Gas-phase generation of large bio-molecules |
2004 - 2005 |
Postdoc at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA, with Tobias Hertel, Fs-pump-probe spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes |
2003 - 2004 |
Postdoc at the Fritz-Haber-Institute, Berlin : Gerhard Ertl, 2-photon-photoemission of silver, Transport measurements at carbon nanotubes |
2000 - 2003 |
PhD (FU Berlin) at Fritz-Haber-Institute of the MPG, Berlin: with Tobias Hertel and Gerhard Ertl, Interactions of gases with carbon nanotubes and graphite, Transport measurements |
2000 |
Diploma Work at MPI for Gravitational Physics: with Renate Loll,The Holographic Principle in Gravity |
1994 - 1999 |
Study of Physics (TU Berlin, University of Vienna) |
1989 - 1992 |
Professional training (bricklayer) |