Physics – Atomic Physics
Scientific paper
2004-07-08
Physics
Atomic Physics
10 pages, 3 figures
Scientific paper
10.1140/epjd/e2004-00163-6
We discuss the possibility of trapping polar molecules in the standing-wave electromagnetic field of a microwave resonant cavity. Such a trap has several novel features that make it very attractive for the development of ultracold molecule sources. Using commonly available technologies, microwave traps can be built with large depth (up to several Kelvin) and acceptance volume (up to several cm^3), suitable for efficient loading with currently available sources of cold polar molecules. Unlike most previous traps for molecules, this technology can be used to confine the strong-field seeking absolute ground state of the molecule, in a free-space maximum of the microwave electric field. Such ground state molecules should be immune to inelastic collisional losses. We calculate elastic collision cross-sections for the trapped molecules, due to the electrical polarization of the molecules at the trap center, and find that they are extraordinarily large. Thus, molecules in a microwave trap should be very amenable to sympathetic and/or evaporative cooling. The combination of these properties seems to open a clear path to producing large samples of polar molecules at temperatures much lower than has been possible previously.
DeMille David
Glenn David R.
Petricka J.
No associations
LandOfFree
Microwave traps for cold polar molecules does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Microwave traps for cold polar molecules, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Microwave traps for cold polar molecules will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-222601