“Exploring Quantum Acoustics Through the Eyes of Quantum Light”

Researchers at the University of East Anglia have proposed a novel approach to utilize quantum light for observing quantum sound. A recent publication on October 2 in Physical Review Letters unveils the intricate interplay between quantum vibrations and particles of light, known as photons, within molecules. This discovery holds the potential to enhance our comprehension of the interactions between light and matter on the molecular scale.

It also lays the groundwork for addressing fundamental inquiries about the significance of quantum effects across diverse applications, ranging from emerging quantum technologies to biological systems. Dr. Magnus Borgh from UEA’s School of Physics stated, “A persistent debate in chemical physics revolves around the nature of processes where energy from particles of light is transferred within molecules. “Are these processes fundamentally quantum-mechanical or classical? Molecules are intricate and dynamic systems, in constant vibration. How do these vibrations influence any quantum-mechanical processes occurring within the molecule?

“Conventional techniques for investigating these processes often rely on polarization—a classical phenomenon, employing the same property of light used in sunglasses to minimize reflections.”

“Methods derived from quantum optics, a branch of physics examining the quantum properties of light and its interactions with matter at the atomic level, present an avenue for directly exploring authentic quantum effects within molecular systems.” Revelations of quantum behavior emerge through the examination of correlations in the light emitted by a molecule exposed to a laser field.

These correlations gauge the likelihood of two photons being emitted in close proximity and can be gauged using standard techniques. Ben Humphries, a Ph.D. student in theoretical chemistry at UEA, remarked, “Our research indicates that when a molecule undergoes the exchange of phonons—quantum-mechanical particles of sound—with its environment, a distinctive signal appears in the photon correlations.”

While photons are routinely generated and measured globally in laboratories, the measurement of individual quanta of vibrations, the corresponding particles of sound known as phonons, is generally challenging. The recent findings offer a toolkit for exploring the realm of quantum sound within molecules. Dr. Garth Jones, the lead researcher from UEA’s School of Chemistry, commented, “We have also computed correlations between photons and phonons. “It would be highly exciting if our paper could stimulate the development of new experimental techniques for directly detecting individual phonons,” he added

This article is republished from PhysORG under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.