A superposition of inhomogeneous static and rapidly oscillating electric fields is capable of trapping neutral particles with a permanent electric dipole moment. Detailed numerical simulations prove the validity and stability of our trapping scheme. Thin rods of barium titanate (BaTiO ${}_{3}$ ) are presented as an example for trapping on the macroscale. HC ${}_{17}$ N, a polar molecule of astrophysical significance, is presented as an example for trapping on the microscale. For HC ${}_{17}$ N and the parameters chosen, the depth of the trap is $40 $mK.A superposition of inhomogeneous static and rapidly oscillating electric fields is capable of trapping neutral particles with a permanent electric dipole moment. Detailed numerical simulations prove the validity and stability of our trapping scheme. Thin rods of barium titanate (BaTiO${}_{3}$) are presented as an example for trapping on the macroscale. HC${}_{17}$N, a polar molecule of astrophysical significance, is presented as an example for trapping on the microscale. For HC${}_{17}$N and the parameters chosen, the depth of the trap is $40 $mK.

Physical Review AApr 18, 20114 citations

Nano trap for polar molecules

R. Blümel

A new ac/dc monopole trap for neutral polar particles, introduced and explored by Blumel (2011 Phys. Rev. A 83 045402 and 2011 Eur. Phys. J. D 64 85–101), is significantly advanced in several directions. (1) Previously shown to work only for polar classical particles and polar macro-molecules, the trap is shown to work for polar diatomic molecules. (2) A homogeneous electric field, optionally switched on for improved stability in the angular direction, leads to stable trapping in higher order stability regions of the Mathieu equation. (3) Based on the Floquet formalism, analytical and numerical calculations are presented that show that the trap is quantum mechanically stable. (4) Definition and derivation of a quantum pseudo-potential allow a qualitative understanding of the quantum trapping mechanism. (5) It is shown that the proposed ac/dc trap may be realized experimentally using currently available scanning tunnelling microscopy technology.A new ac/dc monopole trap for neutral polar particles, introduced and explored by Blumel (2011 Phys. Rev. A 83 045402 and 2011 Eur. Phys. J. D 64 85–101), is significantly advanced in several directions. (1) Previously shown to work only for polar classical particles and polar macro-molecules, the trap is shown to work for polar diatomic molecules. (2) A homogeneous electric field, optionally switched on for improved stability in the angular direction, leads to stable trapping in higher order stability regions of the Mathieu equation. (3) Based on the Floquet formalism, analytical and numerical calculations are presented that show that the trap is quantum mechanically stable. (4) Definition and derivation of a quantum pseudo-potential allow a qualitative understanding of the quantum trapping mechanism. (5) It is shown that the proposed ac/dc trap may be realized experimentally using currently available scanning tunnelling microscopy technology.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical PhysicsJul 4, 20121 citation

{}_{3}

) are presented as an example for trapping on the macroscale. HC

{}_{17}

N, a polar molecule of astrophysical significance, is presented as an example for trapping on the microscale. For HC

{}_{17}

N and the parameters chosen, the depth of the trap is $40 $mK.