Towards cold collisions between dipolar OH and ND $_{3}$ molecules within a permanent magnetic trapTowards cold collisions between dipolar OH and ND$_{3}$ molecules within a permanent magnetic trap

Brian C. Sawyer, Benjamin Stuhl, Mark Yeo +2 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 21, 20090 citations

Collisions between cold molecules in a superconducting magnetic trap

Yair Segev, Martin Pitzer, Michael Karpov +3 more

Abstract Collisions between cold molecules are essential for studying fundamental aspects of quantum chemistry, and may enable the formation of quantum degenerate molecular matter by evaporative cooling. However, collisions between trapped, naturally occurring molecules have not been directly observed so far owing to the low collision rates of dilute samples. Here we report the direct observation of collisions between cold trapped molecules, without the need for laser cooling. We magnetically capture molecular oxygen in an 800-millikelvin-deep superconducting trap and set bounds on the ratio between the elastic- and inelastic-scattering rates—the key parameter determining the feasibility of evaporative cooling. We further co-trap atoms and molecules and identify collisions between them, paving the way for studies of cold interspecies collisions in a magnetic trap.Abstract Collisions between cold molecules are essential for studying fundamental aspects of quantum chemistry, and may enable the formation of quantum degenerate molecular matter by evaporative cooling. However, collisions between trapped, naturally occurring molecules have not been directly observed so far owing to the low collision rates of dilute samples. Here we report the direct observation of collisions between cold trapped molecules, without the need for laser cooling. We magnetically capture molecular oxygen in an 800-millikelvin-deep superconducting trap and set bounds on the ratio between the elastic- and inelastic-scattering rates—the key parameter determining the feasibility of evaporative cooling. We further co-trap atoms and molecules and identify collisions between them, paving the way for studies of cold interspecies collisions in a magnetic trap.

Jan 1, 201935 citations

Collisions between cold molecules in a superconducting magnetic trap

Martin Pitzer, Yair Segev, Michael Karpov +3 more

Synopsis We decelerate and trap molecular oxygen using time-dependent magnetic fields and superconducting magnets. The density-dependent, non-exponential decay in particle number provides a clear proof of molecule-molecule collisions within the trapped ensemble. The spatial distribution of molecules in the trap is found to change over time, allowing to set limits on the ratio between the elastic and inelastic collision cross sections. Our experimental scheme opens up new possibilities for studying quantum effects in chemistry as well as for evaporative cooling of molecules.Synopsis We decelerate and trap molecular oxygen using time-dependent magnetic fields and superconducting magnets. The density-dependent, non-exponential decay in particle number provides a clear proof of molecule-molecule collisions within the trapped ensemble. The spatial distribution of molecules in the trap is found to change over time, allowing to set limits on the ratio between the elastic and inelastic collision cross sections. Our experimental scheme opens up new possibilities for studying quantum effects in chemistry as well as for evaporative cooling of molecules.

Journal of Physics Conference SeriesJan 1, 20205 citations

Progress toward cold N-NH collisions in a magnetic trap

Matthew T. Hummon, Hsin-I Lu, Edem Tsikata +1 more

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMay 21, 20090 citations

Towards cold collisions between dipolar OH and ND

_{3}

molecules within a permanent magnetic trap