Creating nuclear spin entanglement using an optical degree of freedom

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed theoretical framework for entangling nuclear spins via optical excitations in molecular nanostructures, expanding the applicability of previous methods for quantum information processing.

Contribution

It extends and generalizes a prior entanglement method, demonstrating broader applicability to various molecular structures.

Findings

Method applicable to a wider class of molecular structures

Enhanced theoretical understanding of nuclear spin entanglement

Potential for improved quantum information storage and processing

Abstract

Molecular nanostructures are promising building blocks for future quantum technologies, provided methods of harnessing their multiple degrees of freedom can be identified and implemented. Due to low decoherence rates nuclear spins are considered ideal candidates for storing quantum information while optical excitations can give rise to fast and controllable interactions for information processing. A recent paper (Physical Review Letters \textbf{104} 200501) proposed a method for entangling two nuclear spins through their mutual coupling to a transient optically excited electron spin. Building on the same idea, we here present an extended and much more detailed theoretical framework, showing that this method is in fact applicable to a much wider class of molecular structures than previously discussed in the original proposal.