Enabling Molecular Quantum Information Science with Electron Spins

Abstract: 

Quantum technologies based on molecular electron spin coherence afford unique potential in miniaturization, spatial localization, and tunability through synthetic chemistry and biomolecular integration. However, many applications within molecular quantum information science hinge on slowing down spin relaxation, a process that effectively leaks quantum information into the environment. Additionally, applications such as quantum sensing with molecular quantum bits (qubits) have only recently undergone exploration. This talk will summarize the development and application of ligand field spin dynamics, a molecular paradigm to construct spin relaxation structure-function relationships from physical inorganic spectroscopic observables. This approach elucidates the critical bonding, symmetry, and ligand field vibronic excited-state coupling factors enabling room-temperature coherence, as measured by pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The talk will further describe the development of a new spectroscopic technique to achieve ultrafast, all-optical measurements of molecular electron spin coherence in an unprecedented manner, which opens the door to new synthetic design and applications of molecular qubits.