Abstract
We report on the ability to tailor the optical dipole force for molecules by tuning their effective polarizability with strong field alignment using polarized fields. We have measured a difference of 20% in the dipole force on cold molecules when changing from linear to near-circular polarization using peak field intensities of . A variation in the focal length with laser polarization of a molecular-optical lens formed by a single focused laser beam was also measured. This provides a new way of modifying this force for many molecules.
- Received 17 March 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.153001
©2009 American Physical Society