Hybrid interfaces at the single quantum level in fluorescent molecules

Year: 2025

Authors: De Bernardis D., Levy-Falk H., Fanella E., Duquennoy R., Digiorgio V., Scalari G., Colautti M., Toninelli C.

Autors Affiliation: Natl Inst Opt CNR INO, C-O LENS via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Lab Nonlinear Spect LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Naples Federico II, Phys Dept, Via Cinthia 21, I-80126 Fuorigrotta, Italy; Inst Quantum Elect, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Abstract: We theoretically investigate a single fluorescent molecule as a hybrid quantum optical device, in which multiple external laser sources exert control of the vibronic states. In the high-saturation regime, a coherent interaction is established between the vibrational and electronic degrees of freedom, and molecules can simulate several cavity QED models, whereby a specific vibrational mode plays the role of the cavity mode. Focusing on the specific example where the system is turned into an analogue simulator of the quantum Rabi model, the steady state exhibits vibrational bi-modality resulting in a statistical mixture of highly non-classical vibronic cat states. Applying our paradigm to molecules with prominent spatial asymmetry and combining an optical excitation with a THz(IR) driving, the system can be turned into a single photon transducer. Two possible implementations are discussed based on the coupling to a subwavelength THz patch antenna or a resonant metamaterial. In a nutshell, this work assesses the role of molecules as an optomechanical quantum toolbox for creating hybrid entangled states of electrons, photons, and vibrations, hence enabling frequency conversion over very different energy scales.

Journal/Review: QUANTUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Volume: 10 (4)      Pages from: 45051-1  to: 45051-29

More Information: The project has been co-funded by the European Union (ERC, QUINTESSEnCE, 101088394). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. We are grateful to Claudiu Genes, Diego Martin-Cano, Quentin Deplano, Francesco Campaioli, Alberto Biella, Fabrizio Minganti and Severino Zeni for very insightful discussions. D D B acknowledges funding from the European Union-NextGeneration EU, ’Integrated infrastructure initiative in Photonic and Quantum Sciences’ – I-PHOQS [IR0000016, ID D2B8D520, CUP B53C22001750006].
KeyWords: quantum optics; organic molecules; single photon emitters; vibrational optomechanics; THz quantum transduction; dissipative Rabi model
DOI: 10.1088/2058-9565/ae0960