We show how ultracold polar molecules, suggested as a new platform for quantum computation, can be manipulated to switch “on” and “off” their strong dipole-dipole interactions. This can be accomplished through selective excitation of states with considerably different dipole moments. We discuss different schemes for quantum gates using real molecules: CO, LiH, and CaF, as examples of polar molecules which are being experimentally studied at ultracold temperatures. These schemes can be realized in several recently proposed architectures.

• Received 2 February 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.050301