Ergodicity breaking in rapidly rotating C60 fullerenes

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Liu, Lee R.; Rosenberg, Dina; Changala, P. Bryan; Crowley, Philip J. D.; Nesbitt, David J.; Yao, Norman Y.; Tscherbul, Timur V.; Ye, Jun
• 署名单位: National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) - USA; University of Colorado System; University of Colorado Boulder; University of Colorado System; University of Colorado Boulder; Harvard University; University of Colorado System; University of Colorado Boulder; Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE); University of Nevada Reno
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-9853
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adi6354
• 发表日期: 2023-08-18
• 页码: 778-783
• 关键词: many-body localization; vibrational-energy; fine-structure; quantum; molecules; symmetry; SPECTRA; bifurcations; REGISTRATION; splittings

摘要

Ergodicity, the central tenet of statistical mechanics, requires an isolated system to explore all available phase space constrained by energy and symmetry. Mechanisms for violating ergodicity are of interest for probing nonequilibrium matter and protecting quantum coherence in complex systems. Polyatomic molecules have long served as a platform for probing ergodicity breaking in vibrational energy transport. Here, we report the observation of rotational ergodicity breaking in an unprecedentedly large molecule, C-12(60), determined from its icosahedral rovibrational fine structure. The ergodicity breaking occurs well below the vibrational ergodicity threshold and exhibits multiple transitions between ergodic and nonergodic regimes with increasing angular momentum. These peculiar dynamics result from the molecule's distinctive combination of symmetry, size, and rigidity, highlighting its relevance to emergent phenomena in mesoscopic quantum systems.