Single molecule spectroscopy in solids: Quantum optics and spectral dynamics

In recent years different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were successfully employed to detect the fluorescence signals of single dye molecules in the condensed phase. In low temperature solids the fluorescence excitation line of a single dopant molecule is a high resolution optical probe of its local nanoenvironment. As inhomogeneous contributions and ensemble averaging are absent, many effects hidden when looking at large populations of molecules become observable. Two important research areas in single molecule spectroscopy deal with the investigation of quantum optical effects and the spectral jumping behaviour of single molecule excitation lines caused by fluctuations of two-level systems inherent to disordered solids. Rather than delivering a complete presentation, we will focus on some selected examples which emphasize the unique features of spectroscopy with a single absorber.