Vojtěch Švarc

Quantum interference between interacting systems is fundamental to basic science and quantum technology, but it typically requires precise control of the interaction phases of lasers or microwave generators. Can interference be observed if those interaction phases are stable but unknown, usually prohibitive for complex state without active control? Here, we answer this question by experimentally preparing a Schrödinger-cat-like state of an internal qubit and a motional oscillator of a trapped $^{40}$Ca$^{+}$ ion, and its robustness to such uncontrolled phase. By applying alternating red and blue sideband pulses, we enforce a strict qubit-parity correlation and interference inherently insensitive to stable but unknown phases of the driving laser. For this qubit-parity interference, we use a minimal two-pulse interferometric sequence to demonstrate characteristic visibilities of $20\%$ and $40\%$, which approach the theoretical visibility limit, providing a scalable coherence witness without full state tomography for high-dimensional states.

Absorption spectroscopy is a fundamental tool for probing molecular structure. However, performing absorption spectroscopy on individual molecules is challenging due to the low signal-to-noise ratio. Here, we report on a nondestructive absorption spectroscopy on a mid-infrared vibrational transition in a single molecular ion that is co-trapped with an atomic ion. The absorption of a single photon is detected via the momentum transfer from the absorbed photon onto the molecule. This recoil signal is amplified using a non-classical state of motion of the two-ion crystal and subsequently read out via the atomic ion. We characterize the recoil detection method and use it to investigate the interaction between femtosecond laser pulses and the O-H stretching vibration in individual CaOH+ molecular ions. Furthermore, we present the single-photon absorption spectrum obtained for the vibrational transition. This method represents a milestone towards quantum non-demolition measurements of complex polyatomic molecules, providing high-fidelity methods for preparation and measurement of the quantum state of a wide range of molecular species.