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While in the last decade atom interferometry^[1] has become a rapidly expanding field, coherent de Broglie optics with large molecules has still remained completely unexplored. We propose that interesting new physics is to be expected in such experiments. In particular the mechanisms of decoherence in mesoscopic systems may be studied far beyond existing experiments^[2]. New insights may also be expected for the possibilities of entanglement of large objects. New boundary effects should be observable in the scattering of large particles at small apertures. Finally, new experimental technologies like molecular nano-lithography and quantum physics of small biomolecules would be opened up. In order to successfully perform such experiments it is essential to find suitable beam sources, efficient detectors, and coherent optical elements for macromolecules. Some prospects shall be outlined below. Large molecules pose several experimental challenges since most of them cannot simply be thermally vaporized without fragmentation or structural changes nor can their de Broglie wavelengths be easily modified. We have chosen C₆₀ for our first experiments because of its ready availability, its exceptionally high stability against thermal decomposition and its particularly high symmetry.

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-1454-9_18

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