Molecular Ion Quantum Control

Project: Research project

Project Details

Description

Because molecular internal structure is significantly richer than that of atoms, trapped molecule quantum control and non-destructive state readout has presented a challenge. However, the progress over the last few years has been quite remarkable. Building off of our previous demonstrations of rotational state control, we will develop hyperfine control of trapped molecular ions, and we will demonstrate tools for non-destructive molecular quantum state readout. In this research program, we will demonstrate that working with state-prepared molecular ions in the trap environment will allow investigation of fundamentally new types of quantum-coherent control and that the ion trap environment provides a powerful testing ground for development of comprehensive theories and practical tools for quantum coherent control. Specifically, we will demonstrate the power of these techniques by performing high-quality single-molecule spectroscopy. We will then apply the state control and readout tools to make the first studies of controlled quantum coherences of trapped molecular ions. These studies will include exploration of the high density of molecular rotational/hyperfine clock states, which is a potentially powerful asset for quantum information processing. Molecular entanglement and coherent manipulation of rotational wavepackets will also be explored. Future applications of new molecular control and readout quantum technologies include quantum information processing, broadband quantum sensing, and precision spectroscopy.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date9/15/179/14/22

Funding

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-17-1-0352-P00004)

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