Apparatus for Laser Cooling, Trapping, and Dissociation of BaH molecules

Abstract

We propose to assemble an apparatus for laser cooling and trapping of barium monohydride(BaH) molecules. The system will include the components needed to slow and cool themolecules and confine them in a magneto-optical trap, particularly the associated vacuum,optical, and electronic subsystems. The cryogenic molecular beam source has been assembled,and the proposed system would complete the apparatus. Direct cooling of molecules is a newand promising technique for quantum control and precision measurements with novel types ofultracold matter, and a broad effort is needed in order for these methods to become mainstreamand widely accessible. The proposed system will allow us to cool and trap on a choice of twodifferent types of optical transitions and thus enable their direct comparison. This work isdirectly in line with stated DOD interests in ultracold quantum gases and specifically in quantumcontrol and laser cooling of molecules. Importantly, it closely complements the ongoing DODfunded research in our laboratory. Recently we demonstrated full quantum state control ofultracold chemistry via photodissociation of diatomic strontium molecules. Applying a similartechnique to BaH could yield ultracold dilute hydrogen gas that is a highly sought-after physicalsystem for quantum physics and precision measurements

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Apr 09, 2018
Source ID
FA95501710441

Entities

People

  • Tanya Zelevinsky

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
  • United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Molecular Photonics/Laser Physics
  • Quantum spin resonance or Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy.
  • Research Science/Academic Research

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics
  • Quantum Computing