Quasi-electrostatic trap for neutral atoms

Takekoshi, T.; Yeh, Jeng-Rong; Knize, R. J.

doi:10.1016/0030-4018(94)00638-b

Cited by 65 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…However, to date this approach has only been demonstrated with molecules cooled using methods other than photoassociation and at temperatures in the range of 1-500mK. Using a very different approach, several groups have also proposed trapping schemes based on radiative interactions such as the optical dipole traps [24] as well as a microwave [25] trap. In this letter we demonstrate an attractive solution to both creating and trapping cold polar molecules.…”

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Trapping of Ultracold Polar Molecules with a Thin-Wire Electrostatic Trap

et al. 2007

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We describe the realization of a DC electric field trap for ultracold polar molecules, the Thin WIre electroStatic Trap (TWIST). The thin wires that form the electrodes of the TWIST allow us to superimpose the trap onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In our experiment, ultracold polar NaCs molecules in their electronic ground state are created in the MOT via photoassociation, achieving a continuous accumulation in the TWIST of molecules in low-field seeking states. Initial measurements show that the TWIST trap lifetime is limited only by the background pressure in the chamber.PACS numbers: 33.80. Ps, 32.80Pj, 33.15Kr, 34.50.Gb Recently, there has been a growing interest in the study of ultracold molecules. While the rich internal structure of molecules poses new challenges in terms of the methods used for cooling and trapping them, the possible applications of cold molecules are remarkable. This is especially true for strongly polar molecules [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Examples include experiments in superchemistry, tests of fundamental symmetries such as the search for a permanent dipole moment of the electron, quantum information processing and the realization of dipolar quantum gases such as polar Bose-Einstein Condensates. For most of these applications, both rovibrational state selectivity and robust trapping schemes are essential. Multiple approaches have been pursued to achieve these two goals simultaneously. For example, buffer gas cooling joined with magnetic trapping [7], Stark deceleration [8] and velocity selection [9] joined with electrostatic/electrodynamic (DC/AC) trapping [10,11,12] and photoassociation [13,14,15,16,17,18] joined with magnetic trapping [19] have all been realized and have attracted substantial interest. Each technique has its advantages as well as limitations, often involving trade-offs between stateselectivity and trapped molecule number, density and temperature.Photoassociation offers the unique starting point in terms of the formation of cold polar molecules because it transfers the initial ultracold temperature of the constituent atoms onto the molecules. This easily results in molecular kinetic temperatures of a few 100 µK and with only a little extra effort, much lower temperatures can be achieved by cooling the atoms beyond the Doppler limit with well established methods [20]. In terms of stateselectivity and control, pump-and-dump and STIRAP (STImulated Raman Adiabatic Passage) based methods have both been demonstrated recently [21,22]. However, to accumulate a sample of ultracold molecules via photoassociation a robust trap is needed that is compatible with the photoassociation process.The preferred starting point for photoassociation of cold polar molecules are bialkali atomic mixtures, cooled and trapped in a MOT. Cold dense samples of alkali atoms are readily created and the resulting polar molecules display strong dipole moments (typically several Debye) in the deeply bound levels of their X 1 Σ state [23]. It is important to note, however, that magnetic trapping of molecules ...

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Trapping of Ultracold Polar Molecules with a Thin-Wire Electrostatic Trap

et al. 2007

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“…The molecular response to external electric fields is also the handle for slowing [3,4,5] cooling or trapping [6] neutral particles in switched electric fields or off-resonant laser beams.…”

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Polarizability measurements of a molecule via a near-field matter-wave interferometer

et al. 2007

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We apply near-field matter-wave interferometry to determine the absolute scalar polarizability of the fullerenes C60 and C70. A key feature of our experiment is the combination of good transmission and high spatial resolution, gained by wide molecular beams passing through sub-micron gratings. This allows to significantly facilitate the observation of field-dependent beam shifts. We thus measure the polarizability to be α = 88.9 ± 0.9 ± 5.1Å3 for C60 and to α = 108.5 ± 2.0 ± 6.2Å 3 for C70.

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“…To reduce heating of the trapped atoms, the optical field must be detuned far from resonance. 4 In addition, the light must have low intensity noise at frequencies near those of the trap to minimize parametric heating 5,6 and subsequent trap loss. High intensity light for a dipole trap can be produced by a focused high power laser or, alternatively, a high intensity can be obtained by the power enhancement properties of an optical cavity.…”

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confidence: 99%

A deep optical cavity trap for atoms and molecules with rapid frequency and intensity modulation

Edmunds

Barker

2013

Review of Scientific Instruments

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We describe a deep far-off resonance trap for metastable argon atoms utilizing a medium finesse cavity and a high input power (30 W) to produce trap depths of up to 11 mK. The depth can be rapidly modulated allowing efficient loading of the trap, characterization of trapped atom temperature, and reduction of intensity noise. We measure the change in radius of curvature of the mirrors due to heating by the high circulating intensity and show that trapping is not adversely effected by this for all input powers.

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Quasi-electrostatic trap for neutral atoms

Cited by 65 publications

References 17 publications

Trapping of Ultracold Polar Molecules with a Thin-Wire Electrostatic Trap

Trapping of Ultracold Polar Molecules with a Thin-Wire Electrostatic Trap

Polarizability measurements of a molecule via a near-field matter-wave interferometer

A deep optical cavity trap for atoms and molecules with rapid frequency and intensity modulation

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