Physics Today

Molecules Are Magnetically Trapped

Gloria B. Lubkin

Published Nov 1, 1998• 0 citations

Abstract

The techniques of magnetic trapping and evaporative cooling of atoms to nanokelvin temperatures have led to Bose–Einstein condensation in alkali atoms and atomic hydrogen and to studies of ultracold atomic collisions. But none of the optical cooling methods has worked for molecules because it hasn't seemed possible to keep the molecules from being optically pumped into inaccessible states.

DOI: 10.1063/1.882077

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