Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 34: Cold Molecules II

Q 34.3: Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 15:00–15:15, BAR Schön

Focusing metastable CO molecules with an elliptical electrostatic mirror — •Ana Isabel González Flórez, Gabriele Santambrogio, Samuel A. Meek, Horst Conrad, and Gerard Meijer — Fritz-Haber-Insitut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Focusing optics for polar molecules finds application in shaping, steering and confining molecular beams. Here we present an elliptical mirror for polar molecules consisting of an array of microscopic gold electrodes deposited on a glass substrate. Alternating voltages applied to the electrodes create a repulsive potential for polar molecules in low field seeking states. The equipotential lines are parallel to the substrate, which is bent in an elliptical shape, allowing to focus the molecules from one focal point into the other. The reflectivity of the mirror depends on the voltages applied, on the quantum state of the molecules, and on their velocity. The dependence of the focusing properties of the mirror on these three variables was studied and the results agree with our numerical simulations.