Fraunhofer diffraction of atomic matter waves: Electron transfer studies with a laser cooled target

Abstract

The recently developed powerful techniques of cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy (COLTRIMS) and laser cooling were combined to achieve an angular resolution in an atomic scattering experiment that enables Fraunhofer patterns to become clearly observable for coherent matter waves produced in a judiciously selected electron transfer process. This novel combination of techniques enabled to achieve an angular resolution which is about an order of magnitude higher.