Research paperExperimental CharacterizationComputational DFTAtom diffraction in the strong-coupling regimeCarina Kanitz, Jakob Bühler, François Aguillon, Vladimír Zobaˇc et al.2026·arXiv:2606.31183AbstractMatter-wave diffraction is typically treated in the weak-coupling regime, where vibrational lattice distortions are described perturbatively by a Debye–Waller factor. This paper shows that helium atoms diffracted at kiloelectronvolt energies through freestanding single-layer graphene enter a strong-coupling regime, acquiring large phase shifts from multiple lattice atoms simultaneously, so that phonon-induced distortions must be treated explicitly. Hydrogen atoms in the same energy range remain in the weak-coupling regime. The experimental diffraction patterns are supported by simulations based on density functional theory-derived He–graphene potentials and phonon-distorted lattice configurations.Read more
Suspended monocrystalline single-layer graphene used as the diffraction grating for helium and hydrogen atom beams.3 characterizations5 properties2 figuresExperimentalCStudied MaterialExpand
Graphene lattice used for DFT-derived atom-surface interaction potentials and phonon-distorted diffraction simulations.3 propertiesSimulated Supercell DftCStudied MaterialExpand
Research paperExperimental CharacterizationComputational DFTAtom diffraction in the strong-coupling regimeCarina Kanitz, Jakob Bühler, François Aguillon, Vladimír Zobaˇc et al.2026·arXiv:2606.31183AbstractMatter-wave diffraction is typically treated in the weak-coupling regime, where vibrational lattice distortions are described perturbatively by a Debye–Waller factor. This paper shows that helium atoms diffracted at kiloelectronvolt energies through freestanding single-layer graphene enter a strong-coupling regime, acquiring large phase shifts from multiple lattice atoms simultaneously, so that phonon-induced distortions must be treated explicitly. Hydrogen atoms in the same energy range remain in the weak-coupling regime. The experimental diffraction patterns are supported by simulations based on density functional theory-derived He–graphene potentials and phonon-distorted lattice configurations.Read more
Suspended monocrystalline single-layer graphene used as the diffraction grating for helium and hydrogen atom beams.3 characterizations5 properties2 figuresExperimentalCStudied MaterialExpand
Graphene lattice used for DFT-derived atom-surface interaction potentials and phonon-distorted diffraction simulations.3 propertiesSimulated Supercell DftCStudied MaterialExpand
Research paperExperimental CharacterizationComputational DFTAtom diffraction in the strong-coupling regimeCarina Kanitz, Jakob Bühler, François Aguillon, Vladimír Zobaˇc et al.2026·arXiv:2606.31183AbstractMatter-wave diffraction is typically treated in the weak-coupling regime, where vibrational lattice distortions are described perturbatively by a Debye–Waller factor. This paper shows that helium atoms diffracted at kiloelectronvolt energies through freestanding single-layer graphene enter a strong-coupling regime, acquiring large phase shifts from multiple lattice atoms simultaneously, so that phonon-induced distortions must be treated explicitly. Hydrogen atoms in the same energy range remain in the weak-coupling regime. The experimental diffraction patterns are supported by simulations based on density functional theory-derived He–graphene potentials and phonon-distorted lattice configurations.Read more
Suspended monocrystalline single-layer graphene used as the diffraction grating for helium and hydrogen atom beams.3 characterizations5 properties2 figuresExperimentalCStudied MaterialExpand
Graphene lattice used for DFT-derived atom-surface interaction potentials and phonon-distorted diffraction simulations.3 propertiesSimulated Supercell DftCStudied MaterialExpand
Research paperExperimental CharacterizationComputational DFTAtom diffraction in the strong-coupling regimeCarina Kanitz, Jakob Bühler, François Aguillon, Vladimír Zobaˇc et al.2026·arXiv:2606.31183AbstractMatter-wave diffraction is typically treated in the weak-coupling regime, where vibrational lattice distortions are described perturbatively by a Debye–Waller factor. This paper shows that helium atoms diffracted at kiloelectronvolt energies through freestanding single-layer graphene enter a strong-coupling regime, acquiring large phase shifts from multiple lattice atoms simultaneously, so that phonon-induced distortions must be treated explicitly. Hydrogen atoms in the same energy range remain in the weak-coupling regime. The experimental diffraction patterns are supported by simulations based on density functional theory-derived He–graphene potentials and phonon-distorted lattice configurations.Read more
Suspended monocrystalline single-layer graphene used as the diffraction grating for helium and hydrogen atom beams.3 characterizations5 properties2 figuresExperimentalCStudied MaterialExpand
Graphene lattice used for DFT-derived atom-surface interaction potentials and phonon-distorted diffraction simulations.3 propertiesSimulated Supercell DftCStudied MaterialExpand
