Extended Rotational Coherence of Polar Molecules in an Elliptically Polarized Trap.

We demonstrate long rotational coherence of individual polar molecules in the motional ground state of an optical trap. In the present, previously unexplored regime, the rotational eigenstates of molecules are dominantly quantized by trapping light rather than static fields, and the main source of decoherence is differential light shift. In an optical tweezer array of NaCs molecules, we achieve a three-orders-of-magnitude reduction in differential light shift by changing the trap's polarization from linear to a specific "magic" ellipticity.

Direct observation of bimolecular reactions of ultracold KRb molecules.

Femtochemistry techniques have been instrumental in accessing the short time scales necessary to probe transient intermediates in chemical reactions. In this study, we took the contrasting approach of prolonging the lifetime of an intermediate by preparing reactant molecules in their lowest rovibronic quantum state at ultralow temperatures, thereby markedly reducing the number of exit channels accessible upon their mutual collision. Using ionization spectroscopy and velocity-map imaging of a trapped gas of potassium-rubidium (KRb) molecules at a temperature of 500 nanokelvin, we directly observed reactants, intermediates, and products of the reaction KRb + KRb → KRb* → K + Rb Beyond observation of a long-lived, energy-rich intermediate complex, this technique opens the door to further studies of quantum-state-resolved reaction dynamics in the ultracold regime.

Dipolar exchange quantum logic gate with polar molecules.

We propose a two-qubit gate based on dipolar exchange interactions between individually addressable ultracold polar molecules in an array of optical dipole traps. Our proposal treats the full Hamiltonian of the Σ molecule NaCs, utilizing a pair of nuclear spin states as storage qubits. A third rotationally excited state with rotation-hyperfine coupling enables switchable electric dipolar exchange interactions between two molecules to generate an iSWAP gate.

Elliptical polarization for molecular Stark shift compensation in deep optical traps.

In optical dipole traps, the excited rotational states of a molecule may experience a very different light shift than the ground state. For particles with two polarizability components (parallel and perpendicular), such as linear Σ molecules, the differential shift can be nulled by choice of elliptical polarization. When one component of the polarization vector is ±i2 times the orthogonal component, the light shift for a sublevel of excited rotational states ±approaches that of the ground state at high optical intensity.

Building one molecule from a reservoir of two atoms.

Chemical reactions typically proceed via stochastic encounters between reactants. Going beyond this paradigm, we combined exactly two atoms in a single, controlled reaction. The experimental apparatus traps two individual laser-cooled atoms [one sodium (Na) and one cesium (Cs)] in separate optical tweezers and then merges them into one optical dipole trap.

Laser-Frequency Stabilization Based on Steady-State Spectral-Hole Burning in Eu(3+)∶Y(2)SiO(5).

We present and analyze a method of laser-frequency stabilization via steady-state patterns of spectral holes in Eu(3+)∶Y(2)SiO(5). Three regions of spectral holes are created, spaced in frequency by the ground-state hyperfine splittings of (151)Eu(3+). The absorption pattern is shown not to degrade after days of laser-frequency stabilization.

Absolute and relative stability of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu3+:Y2SiO5.

We present and analyze four frequency measurements designed to characterize the performance of an optical frequency reference based on spectral hole burning in Eu3+:Y2SiO5. The first frequency comparison, between a single unperturbed spectral hole and a hydrogen maser, demonstrates a fractional frequency drift rate of 5×10(-18)  s(-1). Optical frequency comparisons between a pattern of spectral holes, a Fabry-Pérot cavity, and an Al(+) optical atomic clock show a short-term fractional frequency stability of 1×10(-15)τ(-1/2) that averages down to 2.

Trapped-ion state detection through coherent motion.

We demonstrate a general method for state detection of trapped ions that can be applied to a large class of atomic and molecular species. We couple a spectroscopy ion (27Al+) to a control ion (25Mg+) in the same trap and perform state detection through off-resonant laser excitation of the spectroscopy ion that induces coherent motion. The motional amplitude, dependent on the spectroscopy ion state, is measured either by time-resolved photon counting or by resolved sideband excitations on the control ion.

Field-test of a robust, portable, frequency-stable laser.

We operate a frequency-stable laser in a non-laboratory environment where the test platform is a passenger vehicle. We measure the acceleration experienced by the laser and actively correct for it to achieve a system acceleration sensitivity of Δf / f = 11(2) × 10(−12)/g, 6(2) × 10(−12)/g, and 4(1) × 10(−12)/g for accelerations in three orthogonal directions at 1 Hz. The acceleration spectrum and laser performance are evaluated with the vehicle both stationary and moving.

Quantum coherence between two atoms beyond Q=10(15).

We place two atoms in quantum superposition states and observe coherent phase evolution for 3.4×10(15) cycles. Correlation signals from the two atoms yield information about their relative phase even after the probe radiation has decohered.

Spherical reference cavities for frequency stabilization of lasers in non-laboratory environments.

We present an optical cavity design that is insensitive to both vibrations and orientation. The design is based on a spherical cavity spacer that is held rigidly at two points on a diameter of the sphere. Coupling of the support forces to the cavity length is reduced by holding the sphere at a "squeeze insensitive angle" with respect to the optical axis.

Measurement and real-time cancellation of vibration-induced phase noise in a cavity-stabilized laser.

We demonstrate a method to measure and actively reduce the coupling of vibrations to the phase noise of a cavity-stabilized laser. This method uses the vibration noise of the laboratory environment rather than active drive to perturb the optical cavity. The laser phase noise is measured via a beat note with a second unperturbed ultra-stable laser while the vibrations are measured by accelerometers positioned around the cavity.

Optical clocks and relativity.

Observers in relative motion or at different gravitational potentials measure disparate clock rates. These predictions of relativity have previously been observed with atomic clocks at high velocities and with large changes in elevation. We observed time dilation from relative speeds of less than 10 meters per second by comparing two optical atomic clocks connected by a 75-meter length of optical fiber.

Frequency comparison of two high-accuracy Al+ optical clocks.

We have constructed an optical clock with a fractional frequency inaccuracy of 8.6x10{-18}, based on quantum logic spectroscopy of an Al+ ion. A simultaneously trapped Mg+ ion serves to sympathetically laser cool the Al+ ion and detect its quantum state.

Frequency ratio of Al+ and Hg+ single-ion optical clocks; metrology at the 17th decimal place.

Time has always had a special status in physics because of its fundamental role in specifying the regularities of nature and because of the extraordinary precision with which it can be measured. This precision enables tests of fundamental physics and cosmology, as well as practical applications such as satellite navigation. Recently, a regime of operation for atomic clocks based on optical transitions has become possible, promising even higher performance.

High-fidelity adaptive qubit detection through repetitive quantum nondemolition measurements.

Using two trapped ion species ((27)Al(+) and (9)Be(+)) as primary and ancillary quantum systems, we implement qubit measurements based on the repetitive transfer of information and quantum nondemolition detection. The repetition provides a natural mechanism for an adaptive measurement strategy, which leads to exponentially lower error rates compared to using a fixed number of detection cycles. For a single qubit we demonstrate 99.

Observation of the 1S0-->3P0 clock transition in 27Al+.

We report, for the first time, laser spectroscopy of the 1S0-->3P0 clock transition in 27Al+. A single aluminum ion and a single beryllium ion are simultaneously confined in a linear Paul trap, coupled by their mutual Coulomb repulsion. This coupling allows the beryllium ion to sympathetically cool the aluminum ion and also enables transfer of the aluminum's electronic state to the beryllium's hyperfine state, which can be measured with high fidelity.

Long-lived qubit memory using atomic ions.

We demonstrate experimentally a robust quantum memory using a magnetic-field-independent hyperfine transition in 9Be+ atomic ion qubits at a magnetic field B approximately = 0.01194 T. We observe that the single physical qubit memory coherence time is greater than 10 s, an improvement of approximately 5 orders of magnitude from previous experiments with 9Be+.

Hyperfine coherence in the presence of spontaneous photon scattering.

The coherence of a hyperfine-state superposition of a trapped 9Be+ ion in the presence of off-resonant light is studied experimentally. It is shown that Rayleigh elastic scattering of photons that does not change state populations also does not affect coherence. We observe coherence times that exceed the average scattering time of 19 photons which is determined from measured Stark shifts.

Spectroscopy using quantum logic.

We present a general technique for precision spectroscopy of atoms that lack suitable transitions for efficient laser cooling, internal state preparation, and detection. In our implementation with trapped atomic ions, an auxiliary "logic" ion provides sympathetic laser cooling, state initialization, and detection for a simultaneously trapped "spectroscopy" ion. Detection is achieved by applying a mapping operation to each ion, which results in a coherent transfer of the spectroscopy ion's internal state onto the logic ion, where it is then measured with high efficiency.

Quantum information processing with trapped ions.

Experiments directed towards the development of a quantum computer based on trapped atomic ions are described briefly. We discuss the implementation of single-qubit operations and gates between qubits. A geometric phase gate between two ion qubits is described.

Experimental demonstration of a robust, high-fidelity geometric two ion-qubit phase gate.

Universal logic gates for two quantum bits (qubits) form an essential ingredient of quantum computation. Dynamical gates have been proposed in the context of trapped ions; however, geometric phase gates (which change only the phase of the physical qubits) offer potential practical advantages because they have higher intrinsic resistance to certain small errors and might enable faster gate implementation. Here we demonstrate a universal geometric pi-phase gate between two beryllium ion-qubits, based on coherent displacements induced by an optical dipole force.

Experimental demonstration of a technique to generate arbitrary quantum superposition states of a harmonically bound spin-1/2 particle.

Using a single, harmonically trapped 9Be(+) ion, we experimentally demonstrate a technique for generation of arbitrary states of a two-level particle confined by a harmonic potential. Rather than engineering a single Hamiltonian that evolves the system to a desired final state, we implement a technique that applies a sequence of simple operations to synthesize the state.

Trapped-ion quantum simulator: experimental application to nonlinear interferometers.

We show how an experimentally realized set of operations on a single trapped ion is sufficient to simulate a wide class of Hamiltonians of a spin-1/2 particle in an external potential. This system is also able to simulate other physical dynamics. As a demonstration, we simulate the action of two nth order nonlinear optical beam splitters comprising an interferometer sensitive to phase shift in one of the interferometer beam paths.

Experimental demonstration of a controlled-NOT wave-packet gate.

We report the experimental demonstration of a controlled-NOT (CNOT) quantum logic gate between motional and internal-state qubits of a single ion where, as opposed to previously demonstrated gates, the conditional dynamics depends on the extent of the ion's wave packet. Advantages of this CNOT gate over one demonstrated previously are its immunity from Stark shifts due to off-resonant couplings and the fact that an auxiliary internal level is not required. We characterize the gate logic through measurements of the postgate ion state populations for both logic basis and superposition input states, and we demonstrate the gate coherence via an interferometric measurement.