Laser-Cooled and Ultracold Molecules for Quantum Technologies: Control, Simulation, and Metrology

This Research Topic aims to showcase recent progress in the cooling, trapping, and coherent control of molecules for quantum technologies. In contrast to atoms, molecules offer rich internal structure - rovibrational, hyperfine, electronic, and rotational degrees of freedom - which can be harnessed for new approaches to quantum control, information processing, simulation, and precision measurement. Rapid developments in laser cooling, trapping, and manipulation are now opening realistic pathways for molecular systems to become powerful platforms for next-generation quantum science and technology.The collection will bring together both experimental and theoretical contributions that advance the preparation, control, and application of laser-cooled and ultracold molecules. It will highlight work addressing how molecular internal states can be initialized, manipulated, coupled, and read out with high precision, as well as how these capabilities can be translated into practical quantum protocols. Particular interest will be given to studies that connect fundamental advances in molecular control with emerging applications in quantum simulation, quantum information science, and precision sensing and metrology.This Research Topic will also provide a forum for contributions exploring the broader physical challenges and opportunities associated with molecular quantum platforms, including the role of collisions and interactions in ultracold samples, mechanisms of decoherence and loss, optimal control strategies, and the development of new molecular candidates (including polyatomic species) for quantum-enabled applications.Subtopics of interest include, but are not limited to:- laser cooling and slowing of molecules- trapping, confinement, and transport of cold and ultracold molecules- preparation, manipulation, and readout of molecular internal states- coherent control of rovibrational, rotational, hyperfine, and electronic degrees of freedom- molecular qubits and platforms for quantum information processing- ultracold molecules for quantum simulation- molecules for precision sensing, spectroscopy, and metrology- state-selective detection and measurement techniques- ultracold collisions, interactions, and controlled chemistry- decoherence, dissipation, and error sources in molecular quantum systems- optimal control methods for molecular state engineering- polyatomic molecules and other emerging molecular platforms- theory and modelling for molecular control, trapping, and quantum-device integration Topic editors: Ridha Horchani, Haikel JELASSI, Akpan Ndem Ikot, Vyacheslav I. Yukalov Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82239/laser-cooled-and-ultracold-molecules-for-quantum-technologies-control-simulation-and-metrology