New Journal of Physics (Jan 2013)

Quantum coherent propagation of complex molecules through the frustule of the alga Amphipleura pellucida

  • Michele Sclafani,
  • Thomas Juffmann,
  • Christian Knobloch,
  • Markus Arndt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/8/083004
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 8
p. 083004

Abstract

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Recent advances in the manipulation of molecules now allow us to also probe nanoporous silified biomaterials. We demonstrate the quantum coherent propagation of phthalocyanine through the skeleton of the alga Amphipleura pellucida . A micro-focused laser source prepares a molecular beam which is sufficiently delocalized to be coherently transmitted through the alga's frustule—in spite of the substantial dispersive interaction between each molecule and the nanomembrane.