Quantum optics with individual organic dye molecules

One of the fundamental building blocks of optical quantum technologies is a single quantum emitter, which is essentially a two-level system interacting with light. In a solid-state environment, such emitters can be realized using a specific kind of photo-active molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
When placed into the right host material and cooled to low temperatures, these molecules demonstrate remarkably good optical properties on a single-emitter level, allowing for their efficient and reliable control and detection.
In this talk, I will discuss our results on using the molecules to sense the surrounding environment, and on coupling them optically to each other. In the first case, each molecule acts as a tiny sensor of local strain, electric fields, or temperature. If the coupling is sufficiently large, they can even directly affect their environment and serve as the optical part of an optomechanical system.
In the second case, multi-molecule optical coupling mediated by their proximity or nano-photonic structures gives rise to collective radiation effects such as super- and subradiance. I will conclude by presenting some prospects for future work.