Manipulation of the motion of polyatomic molecules in the rotational ground state : microwave lens effect by AC Stark dipole force

Zhong, Wei

Published Jan 1, 2013• 0 citations

Abstract

The main contribution of this project to the field of cold and ultracold molecules is we firstly demonstrated successful manipulation of the motion of polyatomic molecular beam in the rotational ground state, which has the lowest temperature of all possible states. Chapter 1 gives a summary of this field, including the application of cold and ultracold molecules, the methods to obtain them, and each method’s advantages and disadvantages. Once we decelerate molecular ensembles, we would like to trap the cold and ultracold molecules in electric trap, megnetic trap and megneto-optical trap. Chapter 2 starts with an introduction of the concept of supersonic beam and the basic knowledge of it, such as the specific features. The experimental setup will also be presented and explained in this chapter. The main highlight of this project is that we are manipulating molecules in the real ground state. Our molecular source is a Counter Rotating Nozzle(CRN), which can precool (or slow in alternate terminology) molecules in all states including the rotational ground state. The principle and performance of CRN will be presented and explained in Chapter 3. After obtaining a well precooled molecular beam, the microwave lens effect on various species is presented in Chapter 4. Meanwhile, the principle of AC Stark shift, AC dipole force and the microwave standing wave modes, such as TE modes and TM modes, will be explained in this chapter as well. Finally, I’ll summarize, draw conclusion of this work and describe the future expectation of this project in Chapter 5.

DOI: 10.14288/1.0085554

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