Nanometer Resolution and Coherent Optical Dipole Coupling of Two Individual Molecules

By performing cryogenic laser spectroscopy under a scanning probe electrode that induces a local electric field, we have resolved two individual fluorescent molecules separated by 12 nanometers in an organic crystal. The two molecules undergo a strong coherent dipole-dipole coupling that produces en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2002-10, Vol.298 (5592), p.385-389
Main Authors: Hettich, C., Schmitt, C., Zitzmann, J., Kühn, S., Gerhardt, I., Sandoghdar, V.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Crystals
Electric fields
Exact sciences and technology
Fluorescence
Lasers
Molecular excitation
Molecules
Nanotechnology
Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation
Optics
Photoluminescence
Photons
Physics
Quantum entanglement
Resonance
Solid organic materials
Stark effect
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Summary:By performing cryogenic laser spectroscopy under a scanning probe electrode that induces a local electric field, we have resolved two individual fluorescent molecules separated by 12 nanometers in an organic crystal. The two molecules undergo a strong coherent dipole-dipole coupling that produces entangled sub- and superradiant states. Under intense laser illumination, both molecules are excited via a two-photon transition, and the fluorescence from this doubly excited system displays photon bunching. Our experimental scheme can be used to optically resolve molecules at the nanometer scale and to manipulate the degree of entanglement among them.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1075606