Fig. 3: Predicted fringe visibility as a function of cluster mass and G₂ laser power.

a,b, Results are shown for the quantum model (a) and the classical model (b), which both include the effects of ionization and of the dipole force in the grating interaction. Both calculations assume a mean velocity of 160 m s⁻¹, a Gaussian velocity spread of 10 m s⁻¹ and grating powers of P₁ = P₃ = 100 mW. The solid line marks the mass at which the Talbot length equals the interferometer length, whereas the dashed line indicates the mass for which half the Talbot length coincides with the interferometer length. The colour scale indicates fringe visibility V. For masses beyond the Talbot condition, the quantum and classical models converge. c, Slowing the particles to approximately 25 m s⁻¹ will enable our setup to reliably distinguish quantum from classical dynamics for masses exceeding 1 MDa.