Quantum state tracking and control of a single molecular ion in a thermal environment

• DOI: 10.1126/science.ado1001
• Publication Date: 2024-08-01T18:08:19Z
• Authors: Yu Liu; Julian Schmidt; Zhimin Liu; David R. Leibrandt; Dietrich Leibfried; Chin-wen Chou
• Keywords: Tracking (education)

Understanding molecular state evolution is central to many disciplines, including dynamics, precision measurement, and molecule-based quantum technology. Details of this are obscured when observing a statistical ensemble molecules. Here, we report real-time observations thermal radiation-driven transitions between individual states ("jumps") single molecule. We reversed these jumps through microwave-driven transitions, which resulted in 20-fold improvement the time molecule dwells chosen state. The measured transition rates showed anisotropy environment, pointing possibility using molecules as situ probes for strengths ambient fields. Our approaches detection manipulation could apply wide range species, facilitating their uses fields science, physics, ion-neutral chemistry.