Descrizione del progetto
Nuove modalità vibrazionali terahertz spalancano le porte a insoliti oscillatori su scala molecolare
La gamma di frequenze terahertz (THz) tra le regioni delle microonde e degli infrarossi dello spettro elettromagnetico è di grande interesse per scienziati e ingegneri. Corrisponde alle oscillazioni meccaniche collettive associate alle interazioni intermolecolari e intramolecolari, al movimento vibratorio di atomi e molecole in un reticolo cristallino (fononi) e alle vibrazioni di flessione di molte singole molecole. Il progetto QTONE, finanziato dall’UE, è alla ricerca di nuove modalità vibrazionali THz che ispireranno la progettazione e la dimostrazione di fenomeni quantistici insoliti in oscillatori su scala molecolare, stimolando una nuova ondata di ricerca fondamentale e applicata e fornendo all’UE un vantaggio competitivo.
Obiettivo
QTONE aims at discovering new quantum phenomena involving THz vibrational modes, and at gaining control over them using novel concepts inspired from cavity quantum optomechanics and new techniques developed for nano-plasmonics and molecular break-junctions. The three main goals of the project are:
(i) Perform optomechanical quantum information processing with THz phonons in low-dimensional systems, using a combination of ultrafast spectroscopy and time-correlated photon counting to measure quantum correlations mediated by non-classical vibrational states.
(ii) Demonstrate the feasibility of dynamical backaction amplification of THz phonons by coupling molecules and nanomaterials to plasmonic cavities and by leveraging exciton-phonon coupling to realize exciton-assisted optomechanics.
(iii) Interrogate and drive a single-molecule inside a plasmonic nanocavity using simultaneous inelastic electron tunneling and Raman spectroscopies in a molecular break-junction with engineered plasmonic resonance.
I anticipate that this project will have widespread impacts on our understanding of quantum phenomena in molecular-scale oscillators, and will foster the excellence of Europe in fields ranging from fundamental science to quantum technologies and molecular electronics.
Campo scientifico
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- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticscavity optomechanics
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcomputer hardwarequantum computers
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-COG - Consolidator GrantIstituzione ospitante
1015 Lausanne
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