Ultracold Giant Polyatomic Rydberg Molecules: Coherent Control of Molecular Orientation

Abstract

We predict the existence of a class of ultracold giant molecules formed from trapped ultracold Rydberg atoms and polar molecules. The interaction which leads to the formation of such molecules is the anisotropic, long-range charge-dipole interaction. We show that prominent candidate molecules such as deuterated hydroxyl (OD) and KRb should bind to Rydberg rubidium atoms, with energies E(b)≃5-25 GHz at distances R≃0.1-1 μm. These molecules form in double wells, mimicking chiral molecules, with each well containing a particular dipole orientation. We prepare a set of correlated dressed electron-dipole eigenstates which are used in an on-resonance Raman scheme to coherently control the molecular dipole orientation.