Berlin 2005 – scientific programme
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MO: Molekülphysik
MO 21: Heteronuclear Cold Molecules
MO 21.2: Talk
Saturday, March 5, 2005, 08:45–09:00, HU 2091
An Electrostatic Storage Ring for Neutral Molecules — •Cynthia E. Heiner1, David Carty1, Hendrick L. Bethlem1,2, Floris M. H. Crompvoets2, and Gerard Meijer1 — 1Fritz-Haber-Institut, Berlin, Germany — 2FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
We present here the experimental results of a hexapole torus storage ring for neutral, dipolar molecules. In these experiments, a package of deuterated ammonia molecules in a single rovibrational state is decelerated using time-varying inhomogeneous electric fields. These molecules, with a temperature of ca. 300 µK in the moving frame, are loaded into the ring. The interaction of the molecules with the electric fields inside the ring provides the required centripetal force to retain the molecules, with a tangential velocity of 92 ms−1, in a circular orbit. The package of molecules can be observed for more than 50 distinct round trips, corresponding to 40 m of travel and almost 0.5 s storage time.
This ring traps the molecules only tangentially, having no means of keeping the package together along the direction of flight. Therefore, after some time the molecules spread out and fill the entire ring. To correct this, we have designed and constructed a new sectional storage ring that allows for a bunching scheme to be implemented. We will discuss the electric field configurations needed to re-bunch the package. Additionally, simulations which demonstrate that we meet the stability requirements for such an apparatus will be shown.