Observation of Narrow Optical Homogeneous Linewidth and Long Nuclear Spin Lifetimes in a Prototypical [Eu(trensal)] Complex

Abstract

Coherent light–matter interfaces are key elements for many quantum information processing architectures. Rare-earth ion (REI)-containing systems featuring narrow inter-configurational f–f transitions are suitable for creating such interfaces. Recently, narrow homogeneous linewidths (Γh) and long nuclear spin lifetimes (T1spin) associated with two Eu3+ complexes featuring the 5D0 → 7F0 f–f transition have been reported, elucidating that REI-molecule-based coherent light–matter interfaces can be obtained. In this study, we report a homogeneous linewidth of 2.8 MHz at 4.2 K, corresponding to an optical coherence lifetime (T2opt) of 114 ns (0.11 μs), associated with the 5D0 → 7F0 transition of the prototypical charge neutral Eu3+ complex─[Eu(trensal)]. Moreover, we have observed long nuclear spin lifetimes (T1spin) up to 460 ± 80 s at 4.2 K for the complex and efficient optical pumping of hyperfine levels of the 5D0 ground state. The results presented in this study indicate that narrow homogeneous linewidths and long nuclear spin lifetimes could be a generic property of molecular Eu3+ complexes featuring the 5D0 → 7F0 transition.