Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme
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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 62: Poster: Quantum Optics and Photonics V
Q 62.25: Poster
Thursday, March 8, 2018, 16:15–18:15, Redoutensaal
Cavity-controlled chemical reactions of ultracold atoms — Tobias Kampschulte1, •Simon Rupp1, Jan Schnabel2, Andreas Köhn2, and Johannes Hecker Denschlag1 — 1Inst. f. Quantenmaterie, Universität Ulm — 2Inst. f. Theoretische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart
Ultracold molecules can be formed from ultracold atoms by photoassociation involving a spontaneous emission process, resulting in a number of final states. Here we want to use strong coupling to an optical cavity to selectively enhance the creation of a certain final state. During this process, a photon will be emitted into the cavity mode which can be detected. A collective enhancement of the effect would enable “superradiant chemistry”.
In addition, we want to use the cavity for direct, state-selective and non-destructive optical detection of ultracold molecules. Moreover, collective probing of an ensemble of molecules could induce non-classical correlations, such as squeezed states of a molecular degree of freedom.
For the experiment, we are integrating a high-finesse optical microcavity into an existing Rb2 BEC apparatus where Rb2 molecules can be produced by magneto- and photoassociation.
The theoretical challenge lies in the precise calculation of molecular potential surfaces and optical transition moments, in particular for trimers and more complex molecules.