In matter-wave diffraction, we use the laws of optics to describe the behaviour of delocalized matter, be it electrons, atoms, or molecules. This entails a number of questions, such as: How do I generate a matter wave in the first place? How good is this approach? And why should you be interested in something like this?

In our latest publication, we take a pedagogical look at molecular matter-wave diffraction through a single, a double, and a triple slit to answer these questions. To do this, we compare the results in detail to the diffraction of light and discuss the similarities as well as the differences.