New Methods for Quantum Optics with Clusters and Molecules

Throughout recent years, experimental quantum physics and nanotechnology have approached each other significantly. Fundamental quantum phenomena, which seem to contradict our daily experience and common sense - like for instance the wave-particle duality - have only been demonstrated for the most simple quantum objects. However, intense efforts have been started in recent years to investigate systems of ever increasing size and complexity to explore and extend the experimental limits of quantum physics. Parallel to these developments nanotechnology has been significantly advanced in the reverse direction and tremendous progress can be witnessed in the reproducible production of small objects. The discovery of the fullerenes - cage-like carbon molecules -, the controlled manufacturing of nanocrystals, so-called quantum dots, as well as novel beam methods in bio-technology have provided objects which are highly interesting for quantum experiments. In particular for the fullerenes, the wave-particle duality could actually already be successfully demonstrated in a first experiment at the University of Vienna. Based on this success the START project "New methods for quantum optics with clusters and molecules" will implement various experiments with novel and technologically relevant clusters and molecules and permit to enter a scientific domain which has remained unexplored so far. Modified fullerenes (derivatives and endohedral molecules), nanocrystals as well as organic molecules (amino acids, porphyrines,...) will be among the objects under study. These particles differ from previously studied smaller quanta by their large electric or magnetic dipole moment, a large polarizability particular optical properties or just by their very specific and rich internal structure. In the project, which is mainly focused on basic research, experiments will be undertaken which exploit the molecular characteristics for obtaining quantum control over the molecular motion . Possible applications of the expected progress in molecular quantum optics comprise more precise measurement of for example molecular properties or external fields. Also, the prospects of interferometric lithography of molecules, i.e. the deposition of molecules using their quantum wave nature, shall be investigated. Such techniques may be useful in the preparation of extremely small and regular molecular structures, which - in the long run - could be useful for surface chemistry or molecular data processing.

Throughout recent years, experimental quantum physics and nanotechnology have approached each other significantly. Fundamental quantum phenomena, which seem to contradict our daily experience and common sense - like for instance the wave-particle duality - have only been demonstrated for the most simple quantum objects. However, intense efforts have been started in recent years to investigate systems of ever increasing size and complexity to explore and extend the experimental limits of quantum physics. Parallel to these developments nanotechnology has been significantly advanced in the reverse direction and tremendous progress can be witnessed in the reproducible production of small objects. The discovery of the fullerenes - cage-like carbon molecules -, the controlled manufacturing of nanocrystals, so-called quantum dots, as well as novel beam methods in bio-technology have provided objects which are highly interesting for quantum experiments. In particular for the fullerenes, the wave-particle duality could actually already be successfully demonstrated in a first experiment at the University of Vienna. Based on this success the START project "New methods for quantum optics with clusters and molecules" will implement various experiments with novel and technologically relevant clusters and molecules and permit to enter a scientific domain which has remained unexplored so far. Modified fullerenes (derivatives and endohedral molecules), nanocrystals as well as organic molecules (amino acids, porphyrines,...) will be among the objects under study. These particles differ from previously studied smaller quanta by their large electric or magnetic dipole moment, a large polarizability particular optical properties or just by their very specific and rich internal structure. In the project, which is mainly focused on basic research, experiments will be undertaken which exploit the molecular characteristics for obtaining quantum control over the molecular motion . Possible applications of the expected progress in molecular quantum optics comprise more precise measurement of for example molecular properties or external fields. Also, the prospects of interferometric lithography of molecules, i.e. the deposition of molecules using their quantum wave nature, shall be investigated. Such techniques may be useful in the preparation of extremely small and regular molecular structures, which - in the long run - could be useful for surface chemistry or molecular data processing.