Dresden 2011 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 19: Cold Molecules III

MO 19.4: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 16. März 2011, 17:15–17:30, BAR Schön

Interaction of cold atoms with molecular ions — •Anna Göritz¹, Johannes Deiglmayr¹, Thorsten Best², Rico Otto², Matthias Weidemüller³, and Roland Wester² — ¹Physikalisches Institut, University of Freiburg, Germany — ²Physikalisches Institut, University of Innsbruck, Austria — ³Physikalisches Institut, University of Heidelberg, Germany

Sympathetic cooling of atomic and molecular ions by ultracold gases has recently gained significant interest¹. For the investigation of a wider range of molecular ions high order multipole radio frequency (rf) traps in combination with helium buffer-gas cooling are an established tool. In order to reach lower temperatures it is intriguing to replace helium with laser-cooled atoms. To this aim we develop a new rf octopole trap with thin wire-electrodes, yielding high optical access to the trapping region. A vapour-loaded magneto-optical trap provides ultracold ⁸⁵Rb atoms. The design of the hybrid trap is chosen for optimally adapted density distributions of atoms and ions, where the latter is measured directly by photodetachment depletion tomography of anions. Here, we report on first results on the interaction of the trapped ions with ultracold rubidium. In particular we observe the inelastic collision OH⁻+Rb^*→OH⁻+Rb+E_kin, leading to loss of ions from the trap. The prospects for sympathetic cooling of molecular ions by laser-cooled Rb are discussed.

¹ Christoph Zipkes et al., Nature 464, 388 (2010); Stefan Schmid et al., PRL 105, 133202 (2010); X. Tong et al., PRL 105, 143001 (2010)