Reactions Between Layer-Resolved Molecules Mediated by Dipolar Exchange

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates layer-resolved control and imaging of ultracold polar molecules in optical lattices, enabling tunable dipolar interactions and regulation of chemical reactions in two-dimensional quantum systems.

Contribution

It introduces a method for layer-specific state preparation and imaging of molecules, controlling dipolar exchange interactions via electric fields in 2D optical lattices.

Findings

Maximized coherence time with state-insensitive trapping.

Controlled dipolar exchange between layers.

Resonance width exceeds dipolar interaction energy due to thermal effects.

Abstract

Microscopic control over polar molecules with tunable interactions would enable realization of novel quantum phenomena. Using an applied electric field gradient, we demonstrate layer-resolved state preparation and imaging of ultracold potassium-rubidium molecules confined to two-dimensional planes in an optical lattice. The coherence time of rotational superpositions in individual layers is maximized by rotating the electric field relative to the optical trap polarization to achieve state-insensitive trapping. Molecules in adjacent layers interact via dipolar exchange of rotational angular momentum; by adjusting the interaction strength between spatially separated ensembles of molecules, we regulate the local chemical reaction rate. The observed resonance width of the exchange process vastly exceeds the dipolar interaction energy, an effect we attribute to the thermal energy. This work realizes precise control of interacting molecules, enabling electric field microscopy on subwavelength length scales and allowing access to unexplored physics in two-dimensional systems.