# Talbot--Lau effect beyond the point-particle approximation

## TL;DR

This paper explores the Talbot--Lau effect in near-field interferometry with large spherical particles, going beyond the point-particle approximation to include decoherence effects from photon scattering and absorption.

## Contribution

It introduces a model that accounts for decoherence and suppression effects in matter-wave interferometry with massive objects beyond the point-particle approximation.

## Key findings

- Decoherence effects significantly impact interference visibility.
- Photon scattering and absorption suppress the coherent grating effect.
- The model provides insights for designing experiments with larger particles.

## Abstract

Recent progress in matter-wave interferometry aims to directly probe the quantum properties of matter on ever increasing scales. However, in order to perform interferometric experiments with massive mesoscopic objects, taking into account the constraints on the experimental set-ups, the point-like particle approximation needs to be cast aside. In this work, we consider near-field interferometry based on the Talbot effects with a single optical grating for large spherical particles beyond the point-particle approximation. We account for the suppression of the coherent grating effect and, at the same time, the enhancement of the decoherence effects due to scattering and absorption of grating photons.