Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025

Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
Quantum Coherent Control of a Single Molecular-Polariton Rotation
Li-Bao Fan1, Chuan-Cun Shu1, Daoyi Dong2
1Hunan Key Laboratory of Nanophotonics and Devices, Hunan Key Laboratory of Super-Microstructure and Ultrafast Process, School of Physics and Electronics, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
Abstract:
We present a combined analytical and numerical study for coherent terahertz control of a single molecular polariton, formed by strongly coupling two rotational states of a molecule with a single-mode cavity. Compared to the bare molecules driven by a single terahertz pulse, the presence of a cavity strongly modifies the postpulse orientation of the polariton, making it difficult to obtain its maximal degree of orientation. To solve this challenging problem toward achieving complete quantum coherent control, we derive an analytical solution of a pulse-driven quantum Jaynes-Cummings model by expanding the wave function into entangled states and constructing an effective Hamiltonian. We utilize it to design a composite terahertz pulse and obtain the maximum degree of orientation of the polariton by exploiting photon blockade effects. This Letter offers a new strategy to study rotational dynamics in the strong-coupling regime and provides a method for complete quantum coherent control of a single molecular polariton. It, therefore, has direct applications in polariton chemistry and molecular polaritonics for exploring novel quantum optical phenomena.
Related Concept Videos
Spin–Spin Coupling: One-Bond Coupling
Potential Due to a Polarized Object
Molecular Orbital Theory I
Group Polarization
The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions

