Düsseldorf 2007 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 29: Poster: Cold Molecules

MO 29.11: Poster

Dienstag, 20. März 2007, 16:30–18:30, Poster A

Manipulating molecules in high-field seeking quantum states with electric fields — •Frank Filsinger, Kirstin Wohlfart, Jochen Küpper, and Gerard Meijer — Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany

The manipulation of molecules in low-field seeking quantum states with electric fields is a well established technique today. A wide range of applications, from simple electrostatic focusing devices to sophisticated tools such as Stark decelerators, have been realized.

However, the ground state of every molecule and, for larger (bio-)molecules, practically all states that are populated in a molecular beam, are high-field seeking. Therefore, similar tools for molecules in high-field seeking quantum states are highly desirable. Recently it has been shown, that molecules in high-field seeking quantum states such as metastable CO, YbF, and benzonitrile can be focused and decelerated using switched electric fields in an Alternate Gradient decelerator [1]. These techniques can also be used to specifically manipulate individual structural isomers of large (bio-)molecules.

We discuss the behaviour of molecules in high-field seeking quantum states in the practically relevant electric fields. A profound understanding of the Stark effect of large molecules, their focusing properties, and possible loss mechanisms (e.g. Majorana transitions) is essential for these experiments.

[1] H.L. Bethlem, M.R. Tarbutt, J. Küpper, D. Carty, K. Wohlfart, E.A. Hinds, and G. Meijer, J. Phys. B, 39, R263-R291, (2006)