Atomic and molecular interactions with photons articles from across Nature Portfolio

In this work the authors use coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering to study collisional vibrational excitation in highly rotationally excited CO2 molecules prepared in an optical centrifuge.

Ultrafast spectroscopy allows for the real-time observation of molecular processes and enables a better understanding of the electron dynamics and nuclear evolution that occur during a chemical reaction. Here, the authors study, experimentally and theoretically, the electron localization that occurs on a femtosecond timescale during the dissociation of N₂O.

Ultracold atoms are generated in the lab using optical trapping and cooling. Here the authors implement a fiber-coupled photonic integrated circuit for a beam delivery to a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap where greater than 1 million rubidium atoms are cooled near 200 μK.

Cold cations, electrons and anions are ubiquitous in space, and their efficient production and trapping is a challenge for fundamental studies like star formation and antihydrogen. The authors realize a platform to produce and trap cold electrons, lithium and hydrogen anions and cations, with the potential of being upscaled to heavier elements.

Spontaneous Raman scattering is classically understood as an incoherent process. Here, the authors demonstrate that macroscopic quantum coherence among billions of vibrating molecules in a liquid is generated when single photon detection and single spatio-temporal mode excitation are implemented.

Experiments suggest that placing molecules in an infrared cavity alters their reactivity, an effect lacking a clear theoretical explanation. Here, the authors show that the key to understanding this process may lie in quantum light-matter interactions.