Rostock 2019 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 20: Cold Molecules (joint session MO/A)

A 20.6: Talk

Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 15:15–15:30, S HS 002 Biologie

A Cold and Slow Molecular Beam of Barium Monofluoride — •Ralf Albrecht, Michael Scharwaechter, Tobias Sixt, and Tim Langen — 5. Physikalisches Institut and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology IQST, Universität Stuttgart

We report on our progress towards the direct laser cooling and trapping of barium monofluoride molecules.

Laser cooling of molecules had long been considered impossible due to their complex vibrational and rotational level structure. However, beneficial Franck-Condon factors and selection rules allow for optical cycling in many molecular species, including barium monofluoride.

In our experiment, molecules are generated through laser ablation of a sintered precursor target inside a cryogenic cell. Subsequently, the initially ∼ 10⁴ K hot molecules are precooled to the few Kelvin regime by collisions with a cold buffer gas of helium atoms. The precooled molecules exit the cell through a millimeter-sized aperture and enter a room-temperature high-vacuum region, where they form a cold and intense molecular beam. We present measurements characterizing this beam using laser-induced fluorescence and outline our strategy for future laser cooling.