This research project is with Dr. Alex Cronin in the Department of Physics at the University of Arizona. I began this project as a summer REU in May 2004, and have continued to work on it through the year. The final goal of the project is to demonstrate the quantum Talbot effect for electrons passing through a 100-nanometer period mechanical grating. The Talbot effect, which is apparent optically as well, is a revival of the grating aperture at multiples of a certain distance. At fractional distances, the grating revival has fractional periods. Using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) I hope to observe the effect within the capabilities of the instrument.

Currently I am working along several fronts. Using quantum theory, I am modeling the experiment with a computer program, in order to determine what effects the SEM beam collimation, the electron interaction with the grating bars, and the beam velocity spread will have on the resultant pattern. Experimentally, I am building a grating mount to run the experiment, and I have been trying different combinations for detection of the effect. In addition, I am experimenting with the gratings to see what their properties are, in particular how to clean them when they become dirty. I have submitted a short paper on this cleaning process for a journal. In the process of doing this project I have also learned to use the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). I have also participated in some of the other lab members' projects. For example, in support of a project being pursued by one of the graduate students, I developed a computer program for blind deconvolution of an image and the imaging system's point spread function, specifically for images of electron diffraction.