Transverse stability in a Stark decelerator

Sebastiaan Y. T. van de Meerakker, Nicolas Vanhaecke, Hendrick L. Bethlem, and Gerard Meijer
Phys. Rev. A 73, 023401 – Published 1 February 2006

Abstract

The concept of phase stability in a Stark decelerator ensures that polar molecules can be accelerated, guided, or decelerated without loss; molecules within a certain position and velocity interval are kept together throughout the deceleration process. In this paper the influence of the transverse motion on phase stability in a Stark decelerator is investigated. For typical deceleration experiments—i.e., for high values of the phase angle ϕ0—the transverse motion considerably enhances the region in phase space for which phase stable deceleration occurs. For low values of ϕ0, however, the transverse motion reduces the acceptance of a Stark decelerator and unstable regions in phase space appear. These effects are quantitatively explained in terms of a coupling between the longitudinal and transverse motion. The predicted longitudinal acceptance of a Stark decelerator is verified by measurements on a beam of OH (XΠ322,J=32) radicals passing through a Stark decelerator.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
5 More
  • Received 28 April 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.73.023401

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sebastiaan Y. T. van de Meerakker1,2, Nicolas Vanhaecke1, Hendrick L. Bethlem1,2, and Gerard Meijer1

  • 1Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2FOM-Institute for Plasmaphysics Rijnhuizen, Edisonbaan 14, 3439 MN Nieuwegein, The Netherlands

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 73, Iss. 2 — February 2006

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×