Molecular Complexity and Ultracold Quantum Science

Polar molecules, due to their intrinsic electric dipole moment and their controllable complexity, are a powerful platform for precision measurement searches for physics beyond the standard model and quantum simulation and computation. This has led to many experimental efforts to cool and control molecules at the single quantum state level. Polyatomic molecules have attracted some focus as potential novel quantum resources with distinct advantages - and challenges - compared to both atoms and diatomic molecules. I will discuss features of polyatomic molecules that can be used in quantum simulation/computation and the search for BSM physics. I will discuss our results on the optical cycling and laser cooling of polyatomic molecules into the ultracold regime, including the laser cooling of the polyatomic molecules SrOH, YbOH, CaOH, CaNH₂, and CaOCH₃. Spectroscopy and attempts at optically cycling calcium monophenoxide will also be presented. Finally, if time permits, recent results on the spectrsocpy of SrOCH₃, SrNH₂, and SrSH and initial general guidelines for selecting molecules with advantageous structure for laser cooling will also be discussed.