No Arabic abstract
We theoretically investigate trapping conditions for ultracold polar molecules in optical lattices, when external magnetic and electric fields are simultaneously applied. Our results are based on an accurate electronic-structure calculation of the polar $^{23}$Na$^{40}$K polar molecule in its absolute ground state combined with a calculation of its rovibrational-hyperfine motion. We find that an electric field strength of $5.26(15)$ kV/cm and an angle of $54.7^circ$ between this field and the polarization of the optical laser lead to a trapping design for $^{23}$Na$^{40}$K molecules where decoherences due laser-intensity fluctuations and fluctuations in the direction of its polarization are kept to a minimum. One standard deviation systematic and statistical uncertainties are given in parenthesis. Under such conditions pairs of hyperfine-rotational states of $v=0$ molecules, used to induce tunable dipole-dipole interactions between them, experience ultrastable, matching trapping forces.
We investigate several aspects of realizing quantum computation using entangled polar molecules in pendular states. Quantum algorithms typically start from a product state |00...0> and we show that up to a negligible error, the ground states of polar molecule arrays can be considered as the unentangled qubit basis state |00...0>. This state can be prepared by simply allowing the system to reach thermal equilibrium at low temperature (<1 mK). We also evaluate entanglement, characterized by the concurrence of pendular state qubits in dipole arrays as governed by the external electric field, dipole-dipole coupling and number N of molecules in the array. In the parameter regime that we consider for quantum computing, we find that qubit entanglement is modest, typically no greater than 0.0001, confirming the negligible entanglement in the ground state. We discuss methods for realizing quantum computation in the gate model, measurement based model, instantaneous quantum polynomial time circuits and the adiabatic model using polar molecules in pendular states.
We discuss how the internal structure of ultracold molecules, trapped in the motional ground state of optical tweezers, can be used to implement qudits. We explore the rotational, fine and hyperfine structure of $^{40}$Ca$^{19}$F and $^{87}$Rb$^{133}$Cs, which are examples of molecules with $^2Sigma$ and $^1Sigma$ electronic ground states, respectively. In each case we identify a subset of levels within a single rotational manifold suitable to implement a 4-level qudit. Quantum gates can be implemented using two-photon microwave transitions via levels in a neighboring rotational manifold. We discuss limitations to the usefulness of molecular qudits, arising from off-resonant excitation and decoherence. As an example, we present a protocol for using a molecular qudit of dimension $d=4$ to perform the Deutsch algorithm.
We describe the realization of a dc electric-field trap for ultracold polar molecules, the thin-wire electrostatic trap (TWIST). The thin wires that form the electrodes of the TWIST allow us to superimpose the trap onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In our experiment, ultracold polar NaCs molecules in their electronic ground state are created in the MOT via photoassociation, achieving a continuous accumulation in the TWIST of molecules in low-field seeking states. Initial measurements show that the TWIST trap lifetime is limited only by the background pressure in the chamber.
In this paper, we present an electrode geometry for the manipulation of ultracold rovibrational ground state NaK molecules. The electrode system allows to induce a dipole moment in trapped diatomic NaK molecules with a magnitude up to $68 %$ of their internal dipole moment along any direction in a given two-dimensional plane. The strength, the sign and the direction of the induced dipole moment is therefore fully tunable. Furthermore, the possibility to create strong electric field gradients provides the opportunity to address molecules in single layers of an optical lattice. The maximal relative variation of the electric field over the trapping volume is below $10^{-6}$. At the desired electric field value of 10 kV/cm this corresponds to a deviation of 0.01 V/cm. The electrode structure is made of transparent indium tin oxide and combines large optical access for sophisticated optical dipole traps and optical lattice configurations with the possibility to create versatile electric field configurations.
We report the creation and characterization of a near quantum-degenerate gas of polar $^{40}$K-$^{87}$Rb molecules in their absolute rovibrational ground state. Starting from weakly bound heteronuclear KRb Feshbach molecules, we implement precise control of the molecular electronic, vibrational, and rotational degrees of freedom with phase-coherent laser fields. In particular, we coherently transfer these weakly bound molecules across a 125 THz frequency gap in a single step into the absolute rovibrational ground state of the electronic ground potential. Phase coherence between lasers involved in the transfer process is ensured by referencing the lasers to two single components of a phase-stabilized optical frequency comb. Using these methods, we prepare a dense gas of $4cdot10^4$ polar molecules at a temperature below 400 nK. This fermionic molecular ensemble is close to quantum degeneracy and can be characterized by a degeneracy parameter of $T/T_F=3$. We have measured the molecular polarizability in an optical dipole trap where the trap lifetime gives clues to interesting ultracold chemical processes. Given the large measured dipole moment of the KRb molecules of 0.5 Debye, the study of quantum degenerate molecular gases interacting via strong dipolar interactions is now within experimental reach.