Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 19: Cold Molecules III

MO 19.7: Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 18:00–18:15, BAR Schön

Manipulation of Polar Molecules in a Microstructured Electric Trap — •Barbara G.U. Englert, Manuel Mielenz, Christian Sommer, Josef Bayerl, Michael Motsch, Pepijn W.H. Pinkse, Martin Zeppenfeld, and Gerhard Rempe — Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, 85748 Garching

Cold polar molecules offer exciting new possibilities for research in physics and chemistry, such as molecular precision spectroscopy or cold collision studies. For all of these experiments, long interaction times are essential. Additionally, homogeneous electric fields are desirable for laser addressing of individual molecular states or the control of chemical reactions. These requirements are assured by using a properly designed electric trap. In our experiment, molecules are confined between two capacitor plates which are microstructured with a suitable charged electrode array to avoid collisions with the plate surfaces [1]. A novel feature of our trap is that it is devided into two separate regions to which independent homogeneous fields can be applied, giving rise to a tunable potential step for the molecules. This allows for a controlled manipulation of the molecular motion. Latest experimental results towards the cooling of the molecular motion are presented.

[1] M. Zeppenfeld et al., Phys. Rev. A 80, 041401(R) (2009).