Matter-wave interferometry from near-field to far-field diffraction

Abstract

A simplified explanation of near-field and far-field diffraction with matter-wave is described using the path integral formulation. Our approach is demonstrated with cold Rb atoms in single-, double-, and multiple-slit configurations. With the use of an initial wave for the particle beam that corresponds to the slit opening and the number of slits, the transition from near-field to far-field diffraction can also be explored. Identifying the boundary between near-field and far-field diffraction is the first priority for implementing matter-wave diffraction experiments.

Near-field diffraction of protons by a nanostructured metallic grating under external electric field: asymmetry and sidebands in Talbot self-imaging

“…The same phenomenon has been studied for large molecules by considering the reconstruction of the Wigner distribution function (WDF), where the experimental conditions of the WDF reconstruction have been estimated for the Talbot interference fringes [50]. The diffraction of cold Rb atoms by a single-, double-, and multiple-slit grating was studied in the near-field to the far-field region, including the transition region, using the Feynman path integration method [51,52]. Another theoretical study discussed the possibility of Talbot self-imaging for relativistic matter waves [53].…”