Second-Scale Coherence Measured at the Quantum Projection Noise Limit with Hundreds of Molecular Ions

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-4-2020

Publication Title

Physical Review Letters

Volume

124

Issue

5

First page number:

1

Last page number:

5

Abstract

Cold molecules provide an excellent platform for quantum information, cold chemistry, and precision measurement. Certain molecules have enhanced sensitivity to beyond standard model physics, such as the electron’s electric dipole moment (eEDM). Molecular ions are easily trappable and are therefore particularly attractive for precision measurements where sensitivity scales with interrogation time. Here, we demonstrate a spin precession measurement with second-scale coherence at the quantum projection noise (QPN) limit with hundreds of trapped molecular ions, chosen for their sensitivity to the eEDM rather than their amenability to state control and readout. Orientation-resolved resonant photodissociation allows us to simultaneously measure two quantum states with opposite eEDM sensitivity, reaching the QPN limit and fully exploiting the high count rate and long coherence.

Keywords

Quantum projection noise limit; Molecular ions; Cold molecules; Quantum information; Electron's electric dipole moment; eEDM

Disciplines

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics | Quantum Physics

Language

English

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