A study on quantum mechanical approach for C60 diffraction analysis

Diffraction phenomena of large molecules had been demonstrated in many experiments, and these experiments were explained by many theoretical works. In this paper, we presented a detailed theoretical treatment of the single and double-slit diffraction of C60 with quantum theory approach, and we paid close attention to the diffraction experiment of C60 carried out by Zeilinger et al. in 1999. In double-slit diffraction, we further considered the decoherence effect, and found the theoretical results were in good accordance with experimental data.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We study C60 single and double-slit diffraction with quantum theory approach. ► When we only consider the coherence effect, we find the theoretical result has a large deviation with the experiment data. ► When the decoherence mechanism is considered, we find the theoretical result is in good accordance with the experimental data. ► We firstly research matter wave diffraction with a full quantum approach. ► We think the new quantum theory approach has universal applicability.