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Zeeman-Sisyphus Deceleration of Molecular Beams

Benjamin L. Augenbraun, Alexander Frenett, Hiromitsu Sawaoka, Christian Hallas, Nathaniel B. Vilas, Abdullah Nasir, Zack D. Lasner, and John M. Doyle
Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 263002 – Published 20 December 2021
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Abstract

We present a robust, continuous molecular decelerator that employs high magnetic fields and few optical pumping steps. CaOH molecules are slowed, accumulating at low velocities in a range sufficient for loading both magnetic and magneto-optical traps. During the slowing, the molecules scatter only seven photons, removing around 8 K of energy. Because large energies can be removed with only a few spontaneous radiative decays, this method can in principle be applied to nearly any paramagnetic atomic or molecular species, opening a general path to trapping of complex molecules.

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  • Received 7 September 2021
  • Accepted 1 November 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.263002

© 2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

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A New Way to Slow Down Complex Molecules

Published 20 December 2021

A magnetic-field based method can slow molecular beams that cannot be slowed using other techniques, unlocking the door to ultracold polyatomic molecular physics.

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Authors & Affiliations

Benjamin L. Augenbraun*, Alexander Frenett, Hiromitsu Sawaoka, Christian Hallas, Nathaniel B. Vilas, Abdullah Nasir, Zack D. Lasner, and John M. Doyle

  • Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

  • *augenbraun@g.harvard.edu

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Issue

Vol. 127, Iss. 26 — 24 December 2021

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