Measurement and Control of Polar Molecules Using Trapped Atomic Ions

Abstract

We have studied a hybrid quantum system composed of a trapped ion and a polar molecule, and determined analytically its collective mode eigenfrequencies. Based on this, we propose a quantum protocol relying on the ion-dipole interaction and state-dependent forces to realize a quantum phase gate between them. I will discuss our calculations and present numerical results that demonstrate that this procedure can be used to determine the electric dipole moments of a broad range of heteronuclear molecules --from alkaline-earth hydrides such as CaH, to bialkali dimers as KRb-- trapped together with an atomic ion as Ca+. I will discuss several experimental approaches to build such hybrid setups, and potential application to molecular cooling, entangling ions and molecules, and mapping ordered phases of dipoles.