Dynamics of molecular rotors in bulk superfluid helium

Abstract

Molecules immersed in liquid helium are excellent probes of superfluidity. Their electronic, vibrational and rotational dynamics provide valuable clues about the superfluid at the nanoscale. Here we report on the experimental study of the laser-induced rotation of helium dimers inside the superfluid $^4\mathrm{He}$ bath at variable temperature. The coherent rotational dynamics of $\mathrm{He}_2^*$ is initiated in a controlled way by ultrashort laser pulses, and tracked by means of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence. We detect the decay of rotational coherence on the nanosecond timescale and investigate the effects of temperature on the decoherence rate. The observed temperature dependence suggests a non-equilibrium evolution of the quantum bath, accompanied by the emission of the wave of second sound. The method offers new ways of studying superfluidity with molecular nano-probes under variable thermodynamic conditions.