Work

Coherence of Symmetry-Protected Rotational Qubits in Cold Polyatomic Molecules

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Polar polyatomic molecules provide an ideal but largely unexplored platform to encode qubits in rotational states. Here, we trap cold (100-600 mK) formaldehyde (H_{2}CO) inside an electric box and perform a Ramsey-type experiment to observe long-lived (∼100 μs) coherences between symmetry-protected molecular states with opposite rotation but identical orientation, representing a quasi-hidden molecular degree of freedom. As a result, the observed qubit is insensitive to the magnitude of an external electric field and depends only weakly on magnetic fields. Our findings provide a basis for future quantum and precision experiments with trapped cold molecules.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.134.113402

Authors: Maximilian Löw, Martin Ibrügger, Gerhard Rempe, Martin Zeppenfeld

Institution: Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology