Abstract
We demonstrate rotational and vibrational cooling of cesium dimers by optical pumping techniques. We use two laser sources exciting all the populated rovibrational states, except a target state that thus behaves like a dark state where molecules pile up thanks to absorption-spontaneous emission cycles. We are able to accumulate photoassociated cold molecules in their absolute ground state (, ) with up to 40% efficiency. Given its simplicity, the method could be extended to other molecules and molecular beams. It also opens up general perspectives in laser cooling the external degrees of freedom of molecules.
- Received 2 July 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.183001
© 2012 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Deep Molecular Cooling
Published 31 October 2012
A laser-based scheme allows cooling of molecules down to their lowest electronic, vibrational, and rotational state.
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