Author:
Zhukov Sergey S.,Balos Vasileios,Hoffman Gabriela,Alom Shamim,Belyanchikov Mikhail,Nebioglu Mehmet,Roh Seulki,Pronin Artem,Bacanu George R.,Abramov Pavel,Wolf Martin,Dressel Martin,Levitt Malcolm H.,Whitby Richard J.,Gorshunov Boris,Sajadi Mohsen
Abstract
AbstractWe resolve the real-time coherent rotational motion of isolated water molecules encapsulated in fullerene-C60 cages by time-domain terahertz (THz) spectroscopy. We employ single-cycle THz pulses to excite the low-frequency rotational motion of water and measure the subsequent coherent emission of electromagnetic waves by water molecules. At temperatures below ~ 100 K, C60 lattice vibrational damping is mitigated and the quantum dynamics of confined water are resolved with a markedly long rotational coherence, extended beyond 10 ps. The observed rotational transitions agree well with low-frequency rotational dynamics of single water molecules in the gas phase. However, some additional spectral features with their major contribution at ~2.26 THz are also observed which may indicate interaction between water rotation and the C60 lattice phonons. We also resolve the real-time change of the emission pattern of water after a sudden cooling to 4 K, signifying the conversion of ortho-water to para-water over the course of 10s hours. The observed long coherent rotational dynamics of isolated water molecules confined in C60 makes this system an attractive candidate for future quantum technology.
Funder
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
EPSRC-UK
Projekt DEAL
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Cited by
20 articles.
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