Chaffee, D.
, Margulis, B.
, Sheffield, A.
, Schmidt, J.
, Reisenfeld, A.
, Leibrandt, D.
, Leibfried, D.
and Chou, C.
(2025),
High-Fidelity Quantum State Control of a Polar Molecular Ion in a Cryogenic Environment, Physical Review Letters, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/7ypf-91jr, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=960137
(Accessed April 7, 2026)
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High-Fidelity Quantum State Control of a Polar Molecular Ion in a Cryogenic Environment
Published
Author(s)
, , , Julian Schmidt, April Reisenfeld, David Ray Leibrandt, ,
Abstract
We use a quantum-logic spectroscopy (QLS) protocol to control the quantum state of a CaH+ ion in a cryogenic environment that permits enhancement of rotational state lifetimes by an order of magnitude. By repeatedly and adaptively probing the molecule, detecting the outcome of each probe via an atomic ion, and using a Bayesian update scheme to quantify confidence in the molecular states, we demonstrate state preparation and measurement (SPAM) infidelities as low as 1.39x10^-3}, including errors due to limited state lifetimes. The protocol does not require any molecule-specific lasers and the detection scheme is non-destructive. To our knowledge, this result represents the highest SPAM fidelity of a molecular quantum state demonstrated to date.Citation
Physical Review Letters
Volume
135
Issue
24
Pub Type
Journals
Download Paper
Keywords
Molecule, ion, SPAM, fidelity, QLS
Citation
Issues
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Created December 9, 2025, Updated April 6, 2026