Storage and Adiabatic Cooling of Polar Molecules in a Microstructured Trap

B. G. U. Englert, M. Mielenz, C. Sommer, J. Bayerl, M. Motsch, P. W. H. Pinkse, G. Rempe, and M. Zeppenfeld
Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 263003 – Published 21 December 2011

Abstract

We present a versatile electric trap for the exploration of a wide range of quantum phenomena in the interaction between polar molecules. The trap combines tunable fields, homogeneous over most of the trap volume, with steep gradient fields at the trap boundary. An initial sample of up to 108, CH3F molecules is trapped for as long as 60 s, with a 1/e storage time of 12 s. Adiabatic cooling down to 120 mK is achieved by slowly expanding the trap volume. The trap combines all ingredients for opto-electrical cooling, which, together with the extraordinarily long storage times, brings field-controlled quantum-mechanical collision and reaction experiments within reach.

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  • Received 2 June 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.263003

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

B. G. U. Englert, M. Mielenz, C. Sommer, J. Bayerl, M. Motsch*, P. W. H. Pinkse, G. Rempe, and M. Zeppenfeld

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany

  • *Present address: Laboratorium für Physikalische Chemie, ETH Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland.
  • Present address: MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, 7500AE, The Netherlands.
  • martin.zeppenfeld@mpq.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 107, Iss. 26 — 23 December 2011

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