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arXiv · 2605.10077

A Single-Molecule Spin-Photon Interface

Abstract

Optical interfaces that connect long-lived spin qubits to photons are a central requirement for quantum networking and distributed quantum information processing. Currently, solid-state atomic defects are leading candidates due to their inherent spin and optical coherence. Building on these advancements, synthetically tailored molecular systems represent a fundamental change in the field, utilizing precise atomic control and consistent bottom-up assembly. However, the lack of a robust spin-photon interface combining bright fluorescence, high spectral stability, and the persistent spin lifetimes inherent to ground-state systems has prohibited the detection of individual molecular qubits. Here we show that a triplet ground state carbene molecule, embedded within a structurally matched host crystal, functions as a robust spin-photon interface with single-molecule addressability. The system exhibits narrow zero-phonon lines, spectral stability over more than an hour, spin-selective optical transitions and single-molecule optically detected magnetic resonance. Coherent control yields millisecond-scale dynamical-decoupling coherence and tens-of-milliseconds spin relaxation at a temperature of 4.5 K. These results establish molecular qubits as a viable platform for single-emitter quantum optics while preserving the advantages of bottom-up chemical design and processable materials.

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BibTeXRIS

Simon Roggors, Thomas Unden, Anna Aubele, Paul Mentzel, Gregor Bayer, Alon Salhov, Jochen Scharpf, Martin B. Plenio, Alex Retzker, Fedor Jelezko, Tim R. Eichhorn, Tobias A. Schaub, Matthias Pfender, Philipp Neumann, Ilai Schwartz. 2026-05-11. A Single-Molecule Spin-Photon Interface. https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.10077

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