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On the role of the electric dipole moment in the diffraction of biomolecules at nanomechanical gratings
Author(s) -
Knobloch Christian,
Stickler Benjamin A.,
Brand Christian,
Sclafani Michele,
Lilach Yigal,
Juffmann Thomas,
Cheshnovsky Ori,
Hornberger Klaus,
Arndt Markus
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
fortschritte der physik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.469
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1521-3978
pISSN - 0015-8208
DOI - 10.1002/prop.201600025
Subject(s) - diffraction , dipole , matter wave , optics , diffraction grating , grating , acousto optics , materials science , electric dipole moment , wavelength , moment (physics) , interference (communication) , optoelectronics , physics , computer science , telecommunications , channel (broadcasting) , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , quantum
We investigate effects of a permanent electric dipole moment on matter‐wave diffraction at nanomechanical gratings. Specifically, the diffraction patterns of hypericin at ultra‐thin carbonaceous diffraction masks are compared with those of a polar and a non‐polar porphyrin derivative of similar mass and de Broglie wavelength. We present a theoretical analysis of the diffraction of a rotating dipole highlighting that small local electric charges in the material mask can strongly reduce the interference visibility. We discuss the relevance of this finding for single grating diffraction and multi‐grating interferometry with biomolecules.