Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
10:40
High Resolution Phonon-assisted Quasi-resonance Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Published on: June 28, 2016
Single-photon spectroscopy of a single molecule
Y L A Rezus1, S G Walt, R Lettow
1Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|April 3, 2012
Summary
Researchers demonstrate a new method for generating single photons from one emitter to perform spectroscopy on another. This breakthrough advances quantum engineering by enabling efficient light-matter interactions with single photons and emitters.
Area of Science:
- Quantum physics
- Quantum optics
- Quantum engineering
Background:
- Efficient light-matter interaction at the single-photon and single-emitter level is crucial for quantum technologies.
- Generating tailored single-photon streams and achieving strong single-photon-emitter coupling remain significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a general approach for creating single photons from a single emitter.
- To utilize these single photons for performing spectroscopy on a separate emitter.
Main Methods:
- Demonstration of a novel scheme for single-photon generation from a single emitter.
- Application of generated single photons to conduct spectroscopy on a second, spatially separated emitter.
- Utilizing organic molecules as emitters in the proof-of-principle experiment.
Main Results:
- Successful generation of single photons from a single emitter.
- Demonstration of spectroscopy on a second emitter using the generated single photons.
- Proof of principle achieved using organic molecules, with potential extension to quantum dots and color centers.
Conclusions:
- The developed approach provides a general method for single-photon generation and spectroscopy.
- This work opens new avenues for studying coherent and nonlinear couplings between few emitters and few photons.
- The scheme is adaptable for various quantum emitters, paving the way for advanced quantum engineering applications.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission
Molecules possess discrete energy levels called quantum states. Unlike atoms, which have simpler energy levels, molecules possess additional rotational and vibrational energy levels. Each energy level is separated by an energy gap, with the gaps between adjacent electronic, vibrational, and rotational levels varying significantly. The three types of energy levels in a diatomic molecule are shown in Figure 1.
01:16Spectrophotometry: Introduction
Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
01:21Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Tandem mass spectrometry is a technique that uses multiple mass analyzers in series to obtain a higher selectivity and reduce chemical noise during analyte detection. Instruments with multiple analyzers separated by an interaction cell enable secondary fragmentation and selected study of the fragment ions.Secondary fragmentations occur in the interaction cell and can be induced by various factors. Fragmentation induced by collision with inert gases, such as N2, Ar, He, etc., is called...
01:23Atomic Spectroscopy: Absorption, Emission, and Fluorescence
Atomic spectroscopy is a vital tool in elemental analysis, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It can be broadly divided into optical spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray spectroscopy methods. The optical spectroscopic methods are atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), atomic emission spectroscopy (AES), and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (AFS). The first step in all three methods is atomization, where the solid, liquid, or solution-phase samples are converted into gas-phase atoms and...
01:37Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy
Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.
01:16UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
In Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation is used to probe the electronic structure of molecules. This technique provides insights into molecular electronic transitions, particularly the movement of electrons between different molecular orbitals. Radiation is absorbed if the energy of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the molecule is precisely equal to the energy difference between the excited and ground states. During this process,...