Laser Synthesis of Ultra-Cold Molecules: From Design to Production

D. Meiser, T. Miyakawa, Hermann Uys +1 more

David W. Chandler

C. Gabbanini, A. Fioretti

Hélène Perrin, P. Lemonde, Franck Pereira dos Santos +4 more

In this review, we discuss the impact of the development of lasers on ultra-cold atoms and molecules and their applications. After a brief historical review of laser cooling and Bose–Einstein condensation, we present important applications of ultra-cold atoms, including time and frequency metrology, atom interferometry and inertial sensors, atom lasers, simulation of condensed matter systems, production and study of strongly correlated systems, and production of ultra-cold molecules.

Johanna L. Miller

Ben Stray, O. Ennis, Sam Hedges +69 more

This paper outlines the centralized design and production of the ultra-high-vacuum sidearm and laser-stabilization systems for the AION Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories. Commissioning data on the residual gas and steady-state pressures in the sidearm chambers, on magnetic field quality, on laser stabilization, and on the loading rate for the 3D magneto-optical trap are presented. Streamlining the design and production of the sidearm and laser stabilization systems enabled the AION Collaboration to build and equip in parallel five state-of-the-art Ultra-Cold Strontium Laboratories within 24 months by leveraging key expertise in the collaboration. This approach could serve as a model for the development and construction of other cold atom experiments, such as atomic clock experiments and neutral atom quantum computing systems, by establishing dedicated design and production units at national laboratories.