COherent vibrational state manipulation of Single Molecular Ions using QuAntum Logic – COSMIQAL

The ability to manipulate single atoms and atomic ions at the most fundamental quantum level forms the basis for their application in quantum technologies. Achieving the same level of control over molecules would open up exciting new prospects in this field. However, the complex energy-level structure of molecular systems, which makes them so attractive, also poses serious difficulties for their translational cooling, as well as for the preparation, coherent manipulation and detection of their quantum states. In this context, hybrid systems composed of co-trapped atomic and molecular ions are very promising as they combine the high degree of control provided by the atomic ion, with the rich energy-level structure of the molecular ion, which features numerous transitions with excellent coherence properties for quantum information processing and precision measurements. With this project, we will demonstrate coherent vibrational state manipulation of single SrH+ molecular ions with a sub-Hz quantum cascade laser (QCL) and implement non-destructive state detection via quantum logic. This molecular ion is an excellent candidate for quantum information processing and precision measurements. Importantly, since the considered quantum logic protocols rely on the universal Coulomb interaction only, and since QCLs provide a wide spectral coverage anywhere in the mid-infrared, this project will also pave the way for future high-precision experiments on more complex polyatomic ions, with new opportunities for fundamental physics, quantum chemistry and quantum technologies.