arXiv:1308.0421 · Physical Review A

Laser cooling and slowing of CaF molecules

Valentina Zhelyazkova, Anne Cournol, Thomas E. Wall, Aki Matsushima, J. J. Hudson, E. A. Hinds, Michael R. Tarbutt, B. E. Sauer

Published May 16, 2014• 299 citations

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Abstract

We demonstrate slowing and longitudinal cooling of a supersonic beam of CaF molecules using counterpropagating laser light resonant with a closed rotational and almost-closed vibrational transition. A group of molecules are decelerated by about 20 m/s by applying light of a fixed frequency for 1.8 ms. Their velocity spread is reduced, corresponding to a final temperature of about 300 mK. The velocity is further reduced by chirping the frequency of the light to keep it in resonance as the molecules slow down.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.89.053416

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