Quantum interference and metrology with molecules

Newswise — Even though vitamins play a central role in biology, their gas phase physical properties are still less well studied. The potential of quantum-based methods in biomolecular studies, has now been explored at the University of Vienna. For that purpose, Lukas Mairhofer, Sandra Eibenberger and colleagues in the research group around Markus Arndt at the University of Vienna, prepared molecular beams of (pro) vitamins A, E und K1, that is β-Carotin, α-Tocopherol und Phylloquinon. These molecules fly then in high vacuum through an arrangement of three nanogratings. The first grating forces every molecule through one of about a thousand slits, each of them only 110 nanometers wide. According to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, this constriction of the molecular position entails an indeterminacy of the molecular direction of flight – the molecule is spatially "delocalized". This prepares the motional state of every single molecule such that it becomes impossible, even in principle, to follow the molecule’s path through the experiment.

 

The second grating is realized with a green high-power laser beam that is retro-reflected at a mirror inside the vacuum. A standing light wave is formed, i.e. a periodic array of regions of high and low light intensity. When they arrive at this second grating every molecule is already delocalized such that their wave functions covers several bright and dark regions – even though these are more than hundred times further separated than the size of each molecule. Within the bright and dark zones, the molecules are more or less accelerated. This modulates the extended quantum wave front. Since the molecules do not follow a well-defined path but rather a superposition of possible paths through the machine, an interference pattern emerges: this is a periodic distribution of probabilities to find a molecule at a given location. This pattern is then compared with the third grating, which is a copy of the first silicon nitride grating.

 

Quantum ruler for biomolecules

The ultra-fine structured interference pattern is used as a quantum ruler to read out nanometric deflections of the molecular beam, which are hard to measure by established methods. The modulation and position of the interference pattern then allows extracting information about the interaction of the biomolecules with external fields. This includes the interaction with the diffracting laser beam as well as with a controlled electric field that shifts the molecular density pattern. The researchers use this to determine electronic and optical properties of biologically relevant molecules, here the (pro)vitamins A, E und K1. Pro-vitamin A, for example, plays an important role in photosynthesis.  Lukas Mairhofer, the lead author of this study, is happy: "We have a universal tool for improved measurements of biomolecular properties".

 

Comparison with molecular simulations

The experimental results were compared with simulations. For that purpose, classical molecular dynamics simulations describe the time evolution of the molecular structure and are combined with density functional theory to assess the electronic properties. This results in a good agreement between experiment and theory. The combination of molecule interferometry and quantum chemistry serves as an example for the successful collaboration at the interface between quantum optics and physical chemistry.

 

 

Original publication:

Lukas Mairhofer, Sandra Eibenberger, Joseph P. Cotter, Marion Romirer, Armin Shayeghi, Markus Arndt: "Quantum-assisted metrology of neutral vitamins in the gas-phase", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56 (2017);

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201704916

 

This project was supported by

  • European Research Council FP 7 Ideas im Adv. Grant: PROBIOTIQUS, No 320694
  • FWF Doctoral Program ‘Complex Quantum Systems’, No W12-03-N25

 

Animated view of the experiment:

http://www.quantumnano.at/popular-science/

 

You can play with parts of the experiment in an online 3D version:

http://www.quantumnano.at/popular-science/quantum-games-training/

 

Scientific Contacts

Dr. Lukas Mairhofer (Lead author)

Quantum Nanophysics Group

Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna 

Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna

M +43 650 4545262

[email protected]

www.quantumnano.at 

 

Univ. Prof. Dr. Markus Arndt (Project leader)

Quantum Nanophysics Group

Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna 

Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna

M +43-664-60277-512 10

[email protected]   

www.quantumnano.at 

 

Press Contact

Mag. Alexandra Frey Press office, University of Vienna Research and Teaching 1010 Vienna, Universitätsring 1 T +43-1-4277-175 33 M +43-664-602 77-175 33 [email protected]

 

Open to new ideas. Since 1365. The University of Vienna, founded in 1365, is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. About 9,500 employees, 6,500 of who are academic employees, work at 19 faculties and centres. This makes the University of Vienna Austria’s largest research and education institution. About 94,000 national and international students are currently enrolled at the University of Vienna. With 174 degree programmes, the University offers the most diverse range of studies in Austria. The University of Vienna is also a major provider of continuing education. www.univie.ac.at

Journal Link: Angewandte Chemie