UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy of large molecules for applications in matter wave interferometry

We study the optical properties of various large molecules with respect to their suitability for new matter wave interference and detection schemes. Optical phase gratings for molecules will only be compatible with a sufficiently small absorption cross section visible while optical detection schemes may exploit strong UV resonances. We compare UV-VIS spectra of various biomolecules, such as amino acids, polypeptides, and proteins, with those of new perfluoroalkylated molecules and carbon nanotubes, and we discuss their suitability for coherent matter wave experiments.