Amphiphilic block copolymers containing a poly(styrene) tail and a charged helical poly(isocyanide) headgroup derived from isocyano- l -alanine- l -alanine and isocyano- l -alanine- l -histidine were prepared. Analogous to low–molecular mass surfactants, these block copolymers self-assembled in aqueous systems to form micelles, vesicles, and bilayer aggregates. The morphology of these aggregates can be controlled by variation of the length of the poly(isocyanide) block, the pH, and the anion-headgroup interactions. The chirality of the macromolecules results in the formation of helical superstructures that have a helical sense opposite to that of the constituent block copolymers. The great variety of morphologies displayed by these block copolymers and the fact that they are easily accessible from poly(styrene) and different types of peptides open new opportunities for applications in the fields of life and materials sciences.

Atom interferometers covering macroscopic domains of space-time are a spectacular manifestation of the wave nature of matter. Because of their unique coherence properties, Bose-Einstein condensates are ideal sources for an atom interferometer in extended free fall. In this Letter we report on the realization of an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer operated with a Bose-Einstein condensate in microgravity. The resulting interference pattern is similar to the one in the far field of a double slit and shows a linear scaling with the time the wave packets expand. We employ delta-kick cooling in order to enhance the signal and extend our atom interferometer. Our experiments demonstrate the high potential of interferometers operated with quantum gases for probing the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and general relativity.