Quantum persistent tennis racket dynamics of nanorotors
File(s)manuscript_blue.pdf (8.46 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Ma, Yue
Khosla, Kiran
Stickler, Benjamin
Kim, Myung
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Classical rotations of asymmetric rigid bodies are unstable around the axis of intermediate moment of inertia, causing a flipping of rotor orientation. This effect, known as the tennis racket effect, quickly averages to zero in classical ensembles since the flipping period varies significantly upon approaching the separatrix. Here, we explore the quantum rotations of rapidly spinning thermal asymmetric nanorotors and show that classically forbidden tunnelling gives rise to persistent tennis racket dynamics, in stark contrast to the classical expectation. We characterise this effect, demonstrating that quantum coherent flipping dynamics can persist even in the regime where millions of angular momentum states are occupied. This persistent flipping offers a promising route for observing and exploiting quantum effects in rotational degrees of freedom for molecules and nanoparticles.
Date Issued
2020-07-31
Date Acceptance
2020-07-14
Citation
Physical Review Letters, 2020, 125
ISSN
0031-9007
Publisher
American Physical Society
Journal / Book Title
Physical Review Letters
Volume
125
Copyright Statement
© 2020 American Physical Society
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Commission of the European Communities
Grant Number
WM140063
n/a
841040
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Physics
quant-ph
quant-ph
01 Mathematical Sciences
02 Physical Sciences
09 Engineering
General Physics
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 053604