LIght for controlling Reactive Interactions in COld molecules (LIRICO)

Ultracold molecules hold immense potential for quantum technologies owing to their rich internal structures and tuneable interactions, which enable breakthroughs unattainable with atoms. However, lossy chemical reactions that occur at these ultracold temperatures hinder ultracold molecule application, limiting advancements such as achieving a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate. The ERC-funded LIRICO project plans to develop innovative solutions to address this, such as using a high-finesse optical cavity to manipulate these chemical reactions. By creating hybrid light-molecule states, called molecular polaritons, researchers can switch reactions on or off by adjusting molecule-cavity resonance. The proposed approach should enable unmatched control over reaction dynamics, paving the way for paradigm-shifting advancements in molecular quantum technologies and steering of molecular transformations.