Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

AIP conference proceedings

Hybrid Quantum Information Processing with Polar Molecules

Axel André, D. DeMille, John M. Doyle, Mikhail D. Lukin, Stephen Maxwell, Peter Rabl, Robert J. Schoelkopf, P. Zoller

Published Jan 1, 2006• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We describe the integration of polar molecules with mesoscopic solid state devices in a way that produces robust, coherent, quantum‐level control with applications for quantum information processing. The exceptional features of polar molecules, i.e. long‐lived rotational states in combination with electric dipole moments of several Debye, provide the necessary ingredients to achieve strong coupling to the quantized field of a high‐Q microwave cavity. We discuss two scenarios, where quantum information is stored either in rotational states of a single molecule or in collective spin excitation of an ensemble of molecules. In the latter case we benefit from an enhanced coupling strength, which allows a coherent transfer of quantum information between molecules and solid state qubits.

DOI
10.1063/1.2400642

Related papers

Polar molecules near superconducting resonators: a coherent, all-electrical, molecule-mesoscopic interface

Axel André, David P. DeMille, John M. Doyle +5 more

The challenge of building a scalable quantum processor requires consolidation of the conflicting requirements of achieving coherent control and preservation of quantum coherence in a large scale quantum system. Moreover, the system should be compatible with miniaturization and integration of quantum circuits. Mesoscopic solid state systems such as superconducting islands and quantum dots feature robust control techniques using local electrical signals and self-evident scaling based on advances in fabrication; however, in general the quantum states of solid state devices tend to decohere rapidly. In contrast, quantum optical systems based on trapped ions and neutral atoms exhibit dramatically better coherence properties, while miniaturization of atomic and molecular systems, and their integration with mesoscopic electrical circuits, remains an important challenge. Below we describe methods for the integration of a single particle system -- an isolated polar molecule -- with mesoscopic solid state devices in a way that produces robust, coherent, quantum-level control. The methods described include the trapping, cooling, detection, coherent manipulation and quantum coupling of isolated polar molecules at sub-micron dimensions near cryogenic stripline microwave resonators. We show that electrostatically trapped polar molecules can exhibit strong confinement and fast, purely electrical gate control. Furthermore, the effect of electrical noise sources, a key issue in quantum information processing, can be suppressed to very low levels via appropriate preparation and manipulation of the polar molecules. Our setup provides a scalable cavity QED-type quantum computer architecture, where entanglement of distant qubits stored in long-lived rotational molecular states is achieved via exchange of microwave photons.

arXiv:quant-ph/0605201•May 23, 2006•5 citations

Hybrid Quantum Processors: Molecular Ensembles as Quantum Memory for Solid State Circuits

Peter Rabl, David P. DeMille, John M. Doyle +3 more

We investigate a hybrid quantum circuit where ensembles of cold polar molecules serve as long-lived quantum memories and optical interfaces for solid state quantum processors. The quantum memory realized by collective spin states (ensemble qubit) is coupled to a high-Q stripline cavity via microwave Raman processes. We show that, for convenient trap-surface distances of a few microm, strong coupling between the cavity and ensemble qubit can be achieved. We discuss basic quantum information protocols, including a swap from the cavity photon bus to the molecular quantum memory, and a deterministic two qubit gate. Finally, we investigate coherence properties of molecular ensemble quantum bits.

arXiv:quant-ph/0604140•Physical Review Letters•Jul 21, 2006•412 citations

A coherent quantum interface between a neutral atom and a polar molecule

Daniel K. Ruttley, Tom R. Hepworth, Juan M. García-Garrido +4 more

Arrays of trapped neutral atoms and polar molecules have separately emerged as powerful and complementary platforms for quantum science. Neutral atoms enable fast, programmable interactions through excitation to Rydberg states, whereas polar molecules possess long-lived rotational states that are attractive for quantum memories and qudits. Combining these platforms would create new possibilities, but requires a coherent interface between individual atoms and molecules, which so far has not been realised. Here, we establish such an interface between a single neutral atom and a single polar molecule. By tuning atomic and molecular transitions into resonance, we realise strong state-dependent dipolar interactions at micrometre separations in an optical tweezer platform with single-particle control. We exploit this interface to perform quantum operations between the two particles, demonstrating atom-mediated readout of a molecular qubit, coherent spin exchange, and entanglement using a blockade-based controlled-NOT operation. These results establish a new hybrid quantum platform at the intersection of atomic and molecular physics, in which long-lived molecular quantum information can be rapidly mapped onto an atom for readout or onward coherent transfer. The platform provides a route to hybrid quantum processors utilising atom-mediated readout and entanglement of molecular qubits, mixed-species quantum simulators of dipolar systems, and macroscopic entangled molecular states for quantum-enhanced metrology and precision sensing.

physics.atom-phCross-listedarXiv:2607.15976•Jul 20, 2026•0 citations

Quantum Computation in a Hybrid Array of Molecules and Rydberg Atoms

Chi Zhang, Michael R. Tarbutt

We show that an array of polar molecules interacting with Rydberg atoms is a promising hybrid system for scalable quantum computation.Quantum information is stored in long-lived hyperfine or rotational states of molecules, which interact indirectly through resonant dipole-dipole interactions with Rydberg atoms.A two-qubit gate based on this interaction has a duration of 1 μs and an achievable fidelity of 99.9%.The gate has little sensitivity to the motional states of the particles-the molecules can be in thermal states, the atoms do not need to be trapped during Rydberg excitation, the gate does not heat the molecules, and heating of the atoms has a negligible effect.Within a large, static array, the gate can be applied to arbitrary pairs of molecules separated by tens of micrometres, making the scheme highly scalable.The molecule-atom interaction can also be used for rapid qubit initialization and efficient, nondestructive qubit readout, without driving any molecular transitions.Single-qubit gates are driven using microwave pulses alone, exploiting the strong electric dipole transitions between rotational states.Thus, all operations required for large-scale quantum computation can be done without moving the molecules or exciting them out of their ground electronic states.

arXiv:2204.04276•PRX Quantum•Sep 16, 2022•42 citations

Polar Molecules and Circuit QED: Towards Hybrid Quantum Computing

Peter Rabl, David P. DeMille, John M. Doyle +3 more

Qubits encoded in longlived rotational states of polar molecules interact strongly with single photons of a superconducting stripline cavity. We discuss potential applications of such a hybrid device for quantum information processing.

International Conference on Quantum Information•Jan 1, 2008•0 citations

Molecular dipolar crystals as high-fidelity quantum memory for hybrid quantum computing

Peter Rabl, P. Zoller

We study collective excitations of rotational and spin states of an ensemble of polar molecules, which are prepared in a dipolar crystalline phase, as a candidate for a high-fidelity quantum memory. While dipolar crystals are formed in the high-density limit of cold clouds of polar molecules under one- and two-dimensional trapping conditions, the crystalline structure protects the molecular qubits from detrimental effects of short-range collisions. We calculate the lifetime of the quantum memory by identifying the dominant decoherence mechanisms, and estimate their effects on gate operations, when a molecular ensemble qubit is transferred to a superconducting strip line cavity (circuit QED). In the case of rotational excitations coupled by dipole-dipole interactions we identify phonons as the main limitation of the lifetime of qubits. We study specific setups and conditions, where the coupling to the phonon modes is minimized. Detailed results are presented for a one-dimensional dipolar chain.

arXiv:0706.3051•Physical Review A•Oct 4, 2007•102 citations
We describe the integration of polar molecules with mesoscopic solid state devices in a way that produces robust, coherent, quantum‐level control with applications for quantum information processing. The exceptional features of polar molecules, i.e. long‐lived rotational states in combination with electric dipole moments of several Debye, provide the necessary ingredients to achieve strong coupling to the quantized field of a high‐Q microwave cavity. We discuss two scenarios, where quantum information is stored either in rotational states of a single molecule or in collective spin excitation of an ensemble of molecules. In the latter case we benefit from an enhanced coupling strength, which allows a coherent transfer of quantum information between molecules and solid state qubits.
The challenge of building a scalable quantum processor requires consolidation of the conflicting requirements of achieving coherent control and preservation of quantum coherence in a large scale quantum system. Moreover, the system should be compatible with miniaturization and integration of quantum circuits. Mesoscopic solid state systems such as superconducting islands and quantum dots feature robust control techniques using local electrical signals and self-evident scaling based on advances in fabrication; however, in general the quantum states of solid state devices tend to decohere rapidly. In contrast, quantum optical systems based on trapped ions and neutral atoms exhibit dramatically better coherence properties, while miniaturization of atomic and molecular systems, and their integration with mesoscopic electrical circuits, remains an important challenge. Below we describe methods for the integration of a single particle system -- an isolated polar molecule -- with mesoscopic solid state devices in a way that produces robust, coherent, quantum-level control. The methods described include the trapping, cooling, detection, coherent manipulation and quantum coupling of isolated polar molecules at sub-micron dimensions near cryogenic stripline microwave resonators. We show that electrostatically trapped polar molecules can exhibit strong confinement and fast, purely electrical gate control. Furthermore, the effect of electrical noise sources, a key issue in quantum information processing, can be suppressed to very low levels via appropriate preparation and manipulation of the polar molecules. Our setup provides a scalable cavity QED-type quantum computer architecture, where entanglement of distant qubits stored in long-lived rotational molecular states is achieved via exchange of microwave photons.
We investigate a hybrid quantum circuit where ensembles of cold polar molecules serve as long-lived quantum memories and optical interfaces for solid state quantum processors. The quantum memory realized by collective spin states (ensemble qubit) is coupled to a high-Q stripline cavity via microwave Raman processes. We show that, for convenient trap-surface distances of a few microm, strong coupling between the cavity and ensemble qubit can be achieved. We discuss basic quantum information protocols, including a swap from the cavity photon bus to the molecular quantum memory, and a deterministic two qubit gate. Finally, we investigate coherence properties of molecular ensemble quantum bits.
Arrays of trapped neutral atoms and polar molecules have separately emerged as powerful and complementary platforms for quantum science. Neutral atoms enable fast, programmable interactions through excitation to Rydberg states, whereas polar molecules possess long-lived rotational states that are attractive for quantum memories and qudits. Combining these platforms would create new possibilities, but requires a coherent interface between individual atoms and molecules, which so far has not been realised. Here, we establish such an interface between a single neutral atom and a single polar molecule. By tuning atomic and molecular transitions into resonance, we realise strong state-dependent dipolar interactions at micrometre separations in an optical tweezer platform with single-particle control. We exploit this interface to perform quantum operations between the two particles, demonstrating atom-mediated readout of a molecular qubit, coherent spin exchange, and entanglement using a blockade-based controlled-NOT operation. These results establish a new hybrid quantum platform at the intersection of atomic and molecular physics, in which long-lived molecular quantum information can be rapidly mapped onto an atom for readout or onward coherent transfer. The platform provides a route to hybrid quantum processors utilising atom-mediated readout and entanglement of molecular qubits, mixed-species quantum simulators of dipolar systems, and macroscopic entangled molecular states for quantum-enhanced metrology and precision sensing.
We show that an array of polar molecules interacting with Rydberg atoms is a promising hybrid system for scalable quantum computation.Quantum information is stored in long-lived hyperfine or rotational states of molecules, which interact indirectly through resonant dipole-dipole interactions with Rydberg atoms.A two-qubit gate based on this interaction has a duration of 1 μs and an achievable fidelity of 99.9%.The gate has little sensitivity to the motional states of the particles-the molecules can be in thermal states, the atoms do not need to be trapped during Rydberg excitation, the gate does not heat the molecules, and heating of the atoms has a negligible effect.Within a large, static array, the gate can be applied to arbitrary pairs of molecules separated by tens of micrometres, making the scheme highly scalable.The molecule-atom interaction can also be used for rapid qubit initialization and efficient, nondestructive qubit readout, without driving any molecular transitions.Single-qubit gates are driven using microwave pulses alone, exploiting the strong electric dipole transitions between rotational states.Thus, all operations required for large-scale quantum computation can be done without moving the molecules or exciting them out of their ground electronic states.
We study collective excitations of rotational and spin states of an ensemble of polar molecules, which are prepared in a dipolar crystalline phase, as a candidate for a high-fidelity quantum memory. While dipolar crystals are formed in the high-density limit of cold clouds of polar molecules under one- and two-dimensional trapping conditions, the crystalline structure protects the molecular qubits from detrimental effects of short-range collisions. We calculate the lifetime of the quantum memory by identifying the dominant decoherence mechanisms, and estimate their effects on gate operations, when a molecular ensemble qubit is transferred to a superconducting strip line cavity (circuit QED). In the case of rotational excitations coupled by dipole-dipole interactions we identify phonons as the main limitation of the lifetime of qubits. We study specific setups and conditions, where the coupling to the phonon modes is minimized. Detailed results are presented for a one-dimensional dipolar chain.