A single-molecule optical transistor

J. Hwang, M. Pototschnig, R. Lettow, G. Zumofen, A. Renn, S. Götzinger and V. Sandoghdar ()
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J. Hwang: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
M. Pototschnig: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
R. Lettow: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
G. Zumofen: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
A. Renn: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
S. Götzinger: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
V. Sandoghdar: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and optETH, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland

Nature, 2009, vol. 460, issue 7251, 76-80

Abstract: Quantum optical transistors Quantum information processing systems and related technologies are likely to involve switching and amplification functions in ultrasmall objects such as nanotubes. In today's electronic devices the transistor performs these functions. A 'quantum age' equivalent of the conventional transistor would, ideally, use photons rather than electrons as information carriers because of their speed and robustness against decoherence. But robustness also stops them being easily controlled. Now a team from optETH and ETH in Zurich demonstrates the realization of a single-molecule optical transistor. In it, a single dye molecule coherently attenuates or amplifies a tightly focused laser beam, depending on the power of a second 'gating' beam.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08134

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