The two-particle two-slit experiment

Identical two-particle interferometry provides a scenario where interference and exchange effects manifest at once. We present a detailed calculation of the detection patterns in the two-particle two-slit experiment by extending Feynman's Gaussian slit approach to multi-mode states. We show the existence of two regimes depending on the mode distributions. In one of them we find a novel behavior for bosons, with detection patterns almost equal to those of distinguishable particles although the overlapping is large. As a byproduct of our analysis we conclude that the interaction at the diffraction grating is an efficient method to increase the initial overlapping. We propose a scheme, within the reach of present day technology, to experimentally verify our results

Atomic diffraction by light gratings with very short wavelengths

Lasers with wavelengths of the order of the atomic size are becoming available. We explore the behavior of light-matter interactions in this emergent field by considering the atomic Kapitza-Dirac effect. We derive the diffraction patterns, which are in principle experimentally testable. From a fundamental point of view, our proposal provides an example of system where the periodicity of the diffraction grating is comparable to the size of the diffracted object

Identical two-particle interferometry in diffraction gratings

We study diffraction and interference of indistinguishable particles. We consider some examples where the wavefunctions and detection probabilities can be evaluated in an analytical way. The diffraction pattern of a two-particle system shows notorious differences for the cases of bosons, fermions and distinguishable particles. In the example of near-field interferometry, the exchange effects for two-fermion systems lead to the existence of planes at which the probability of double detection is null. We also discuss the relation with the approach to systems of identical particles based on correlation functions. In particular, we shall see that these functions reflect, as in noise interferometry, the underlying periodic structure of the diffraction grating