aqora

Laser-cooling molecules

Michael D. Di Rosa

The European Physical Journal DNov 1, 2004328 citations

Direct laser cooling of molecules

Timur A. Isaev

Abstract The methods of laser cooling of atoms have long been applied to obtain cold and ultracold atomic gases, including degenerate states and the atomic Bose–Einstein condensate in particular. Until recently the application of laser cooling methods to molecules was assumed to be impossible because of the complex structure of molecular levels and the absence of closed cooling cycles for transitions between the electron levels of molecules in the general case. However, it has recently become clear that laser cooling can be performed for a large class of molecules, including not only the simplest diatomic molecules but also polyatomic molecules. We here present the general principles for identifying suitable molecules and discuss current studies on and further developments in the laser cooling of molecules.Abstract The methods of laser cooling of atoms have long been applied to obtain cold and ultracold atomic gases, including degenerate states and the atomic Bose–Einstein condensate in particular. Until recently the application of laser cooling methods to molecules was assumed to be impossible because of the complex structure of molecular levels and the absence of closed cooling cycles for transitions between the electron levels of molecules in the general case. However, it has recently become clear that laser cooling can be performed for a large class of molecules, including not only the simplest diatomic molecules but also polyatomic molecules. We here present the general principles for identifying suitable molecules and discuss current studies on and further developments in the laser cooling of molecules.

Physics-UspekhiDec 29, 201815 citations

Light Gives Molecules the Chills

Adela Marian, Břetislav Friedrich

A Sisyphean task: Laser cooling of molecules is difficult, mainly due to their rich vibrational structure, typically requiring dozens of repumping lasers. However, a proof-of-principle experiment to laser cool SrF molecules has been done (see picture), showing that laser cooling of some molecules is possible with just three lasers, as Highlighted herein.

ChemPhysChemJan 4, 20111 citation

Toward laser-cooled molecules

Johanna L. Miller

Physics TodayDec 2, 20090 citations

Laser cooling molecules

Valentina Zhelyazkova, Aki Matsushima

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 19, 20131 citation

High Phase-Space Density of Laser-Cooled Molecules in an Optical Lattice

Yewei Wu, Justin J. Burau, Kameron Mehling +2 more

We report laser cooling and trapping of yttrium monoxide molecules in an optical lattice. We show that gray molasses cooling remains exceptionally efficient for yttrium monoxide molecules inside the lattice with a molecule temperature as low as 6.1(6) μK. This approach has produced a trapped sample of 1200 molecules, with a peak spatial density of ∼1.2×10^{10} cm^{-3}, and a peak phase-space density of ∼3.1×10^{-6}. By ramping down the lattice depth, we cool the molecules further to 1.0(2) μK, 20 times colder than previously reported for laser-cooled molecules in a trap.We report laser cooling and trapping of yttrium monoxide molecules in an optical lattice. We show that gray molasses cooling remains exceptionally efficient for yttrium monoxide molecules inside the lattice with a molecule temperature as low as 6.1(6) μK. This approach has produced a trapped sample of 1200 molecules, with a peak spatial density of ∼1.2×10^{10} cm^{-3}, and a peak phase-space density of ∼3.1×10^{-6}. By ramping down the lattice depth, we cool the molecules further to 1.0(2) μK, 20 times colder than previously reported for laser-cooled molecules in a trap.

arXiv:2107.06422Physical Review LettersDec 21, 202155 citations

Laser-cooled molecules

Related papers

Laser-cooled molecules

Related papers