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Getting a handle on difficult atoms

Hendrick L. Bethlem

Paramagnetic atoms and molecules experience a force in a magnetic field and scientists have now used this force to decelerate and trap hydrogen atoms. This method promises new opportunities for precision measurements on hydrogen isotopes and may be applied to a host of atoms and molecules for which existing cooling techniques fail.

PhysicsSep 29, 20086 citations

Towards magnetic slowing of atoms and molecules

Edvardas Narevicius, Christian G. Parthey, A. Libson +3 more

We outline a method to slow paramagnetic atoms or molecules using pulsed magnetic fields. We also discuss the possibility of adiabatically slow trapped particles by decelerating a moving magnetic trap. We present numerical simulation results for the slowing and trapping of molecular oxygen.

arXiv:physics/0703111New Journal of PhysicsApr 16, 200740 citations

Molecules Are Magnetically Trapped

Gloria B. Lubkin

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.

Physics TodayNov 1, 19980 citations

Cold Free-Radical NH Molecules

Heather J. Lewandowski, Lambert Paul Parazzoli, Daniel Lobser

The advent of laser cooling and trapping has transformed atomic physics. Cold molecules, with their richer internal structure, offer many new exciting research opportunities. We create cold molecules by supersonic expansion coupled with Stark deceleration.

Frontiers in OpticsJan 1, 20061 citation

Quantum-State Control and Manipulation of Paramagnetic Molecules with Magnetic Fields

Brianna R. Heazlewood

Since external magnetic fields were first employed to deflect paramagnetic atoms in 1921, a range of magnetic field-based methods have been introduced to state-selectively manipulate paramagnetic species. These methods include magnetic guides, which selectively filter paramagnetic species from all other components of a beam, and magnetic traps, where paramagnetic species can be spatially confined for extended periods of time. However, many of these techniques were developed for atomic-rather than molecular-paramagnetic species. It has proven challenging to apply some of these experimental methods developed for atoms to paramagnetic molecules. Thanks to the emergence of new experimental approaches and new combinations of existing techniques, the past decade has seen significant progress toward the manipulation and control of paramagnetic molecules. This review identifies the key methods that have been implemented for the state-selective manipulation of paramagnetic molecules-discussing the motivation, state of the art, and future prospects of the field. Key applications include the ability to control chemical interactions, undertake precise spectroscopic measurements, and challenge our understanding of chemical reactivity at a fundamental level.Since external magnetic fields were first employed to deflect paramagnetic atoms in 1921, a range of magnetic field-based methods have been introduced to state-selectively manipulate paramagnetic species. These methods include magnetic guides, which selectively filter paramagnetic species from all other components of a beam, and magnetic traps, where paramagnetic species can be spatially confined for extended periods of time. However, many of these techniques were developed for atomic-rather than molecular-paramagnetic species. It has proven challenging to apply some of these experimental methods developed for atoms to paramagnetic molecules. Thanks to the emergence of new experimental approaches and new combinations of existing techniques, the past decade has seen significant progress toward the manipulation and control of paramagnetic molecules. This review identifies the key methods that have been implemented for the state-selective manipulation of paramagnetic molecules-discussing the motivation, state of the art, and future prospects of the field. Key applications include the ability to control chemical interactions, undertake precise spectroscopic measurements, and challenge our understanding of chemical reactivity at a fundamental level.

Annual Review of Physical ChemistryJan 25, 202112 citations

A New Way to Slow Down Complex Molecules

M. Siercke, Silke Ospelkaus

A magnetic-field based method can slow molecular beams that cannot be slowed using other techniques, unlocking the door to ultracold polyatomic molecular physics.

PhysicsDec 20, 20210 citations

Viewpoint: Getting a handle on difficult atoms

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Viewpoint: Getting a handle on difficult atoms

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