Abstract
We demonstrate coherent microwave control of rotational and hyperfine states of trapped, ultracold, and chemically stable molecules. Starting with all molecules in the absolute rovibrational and hyperfine ground state, we study rotational transitions in combined magnetic and electric fields and explain the rich hyperfine structure. Following the transfer of the entire molecular ensemble into a single hyperfine level of the first rotationally excited state, , we observe lifetimes of more than 3 s, comparable to those in the rovibrational ground state, . Long-lived ensembles and full quantum state control are prerequisites for the use of ultracold molecules in quantum simulation, precision measurements, and quantum information processing.
- Received 1 April 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.225306
© 2016 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Viewpoint
Taming Ultracold Molecules
Published 3 June 2016
Riding the coattails of cold atomic physics, researchers have demonstrated the ability to steer cold molecules into desired quantum states.
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