Polyatomic Molecules as Quantum Sensors for Fundamental Physics

TL;DR

This paper discusses how laser-cooled polyatomic molecules can serve as highly sensitive quantum sensors for testing fundamental physics, leveraging their complexity and controllability.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of laser-cooled polyatomic molecules for precision measurements and explores their advantages over simpler molecules in fundamental physics experiments.

Findings

Polyatomic molecules can be laser-cooled and controlled despite their complexity.

They offer enhanced sensitivity for detecting physics beyond the Standard Model.

Potential applications include precision tests of fundamental physical laws.

Abstract

Precision measurements in molecules have advanced rapidly in recent years through developments in techniques to cool, trap, and control. The complexity of molecules makes them a challenge to study, but also offers opportunities for enhanced sensitivity to many interesting effects. Polyatomic molecules offer additional complexity compared to diatomic molecules, yet are still "simple" enough to be laser-cooled and controlled. While laser cooling molecules is still a research frontier itself, there are many proposed and ongoing experiments seeking to combine the advanced control enabled by ultracold temperatures with the intrinsic sensitivity of molecules. In this perspective, we discuss some applications where laser-cooled polyatomic molecules may offer advantages for precision measurements of fundamental physics, both within and beyond the Standard Model.