COld chemistry COntrol via Field-Induced Reactivity Enhancement

Objective

Controlling chemical reactions at the quantum level is one of the most ambitious goals in modern chemistry and physics, with transformative potential for sustainable synthesis and quantum technologies. Recent theoretical and experimental breakthroughs in the field-control of ultracold molecules have shown that microwave fields can suppress reactive loss channels in biatomic molecule scattering. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that external fields can non-invasively steer reactivity at the quantum level, opening the door to a universal strategy for reaction optimization. The CoCo FIRE (COld chemistry COntrol via Field-Induced Reactivity Enhancement) project is a theoretical effort that will build on this progress, pursuing three main objectives: (i) extending microwave control to polyatomic, chemically relevant species; (ii) investigating bi-molecular mixtures, closer to realistic chemistry; and (iii) exploring cavity-mediated reactivity control through strong coupling to vacuum photons. Central to this effort is a scattering-based framework that exploits the rotational levels of molecules to characterize and control long-range interactions. These advances will establish theoretical benchmarks for versatile quantum simulators and pave the way for cleaner, more efficient reactions. The fellowship will be hosted at the European Centre for Quantum Science (Strasbourg), under the supervision of Prof. Guido Pupillo, in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the interface of chemistry, physics, and quantum optics. Training in scattering theory, high-performance computation, and transferable skills such as project management and entrepreneurship will strengthen my career trajectory to leadership. By combining sustainable chemistry with quantum innovation, CoCo FIRE directly contributes to Europe’s leadership in green and quantum technologies, supporting the European Green Deal and aligning with the Quantum Flagship objectives.