Bragg diffraction of large organic molecules

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates Bragg diffraction of large organic molecules using a thick optical grating, achieving significant momentum transfer and paving the way for advanced molecular beam splitters and mirrors.

Contribution

It presents the first observation of Bragg diffraction for large organic molecules with high momentum transfer using a thick optical grating.

Findings

Single dominant diffraction order observed

Achieved equal-amplitude splitting of 14 ħk

Maximum momentum transfer of 18 ħk

Abstract

We demonstrate Bragg diffraction of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin and the dye molecule phthalocyanine at a thick optical grating. The observed patterns show a single dominant diffraction order with the expected dependence on the incidence angle as well as oscillating population transfer between the undiffracted and diffracted beams. We achieve an equal-amplitude splitting of $14 \hbar k$ (photon momenta) and maximum momentum transfer of $18 \hbar k$. This paves the way for efficient, large-momentum beam splitters and mirrors for hot and complex molecules.