Our goal is to pioneer an innovative ultrafast electron microscopy technique with atomic precision, specifically designed for the observation of individual molecules. Our goal is to explore the novel quantum functionalities of single molecules using this microscopy. This technique employs single-molecule electron sources, as depicted in the left image. Although these sources have been in existence for over 70 years, their identification has remained elusive. Recently, however, significant progress has been made in this area, revealing their exceptional potential for developing ultrafast quantum devices and high-resolution ultrafast microscopy [1,2]. The story of single-molecule electron sources has only just begun. Within the SmoleQ project, we aspire to uncover all the mysteries surrounding these electron sources with atomic precision and employ them to develop groundbreaking devices and microscopes.

[1] H. Yanagisawa, et al., Physical Review Letters 130, 106204 (2023).
[2] H. Yanagisawa, et al.,​ Scientific Reports 12, 2174 (2022).