The development of spectroscopic techniques able to detect and verify quantum coherence is a goal of increasing importance given the rapid progress of new quantum technologies, the advances in the field of quantum thermodynamics, and the emergence of new questions in chemistry and biology regarding the possible relevance of quantum coherence in biochemical processes. Ideally, these tools should be able to detect and verify the presence of quantum coherence in both the transient dynamics and the steady state of driven-dissipative systems, such as light-harvesting complexes driven by thermal photons in natural conditions. This requirement poses a challenge for standard laser spectroscopy methods. Here, we propose photon correlation measurements as a new tool to analyze quantum dynamics in molecular aggregates in driven-dissipative situations. We show that the photon correlation statistics of the light emitted in several models of molecular aggregates can signal the presence of coherent dynamics. Deviations from the counting statistics of independent emitters constitute a direct fingerprint of quantum coherence in the steady state. Furthermore, the analysis of frequency resolved photon correlations can signal the presence of coherent dynamics even in the absence of steady state coherence, providing direct spectroscopic access to the much sought-after site energies in molecular aggregates.

• Received 10 January 2020
• Accepted 28 April 2020
• Corrected 22 June 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.203601