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arXiv · 1605.06055

An intense, cold, velocity-controlled molecular beam by frequency-chirped laser slowing

S. Truppe·H. J. Williams·N. J. Fitch·M. Hambach·T. E. Wall·E. A. Hinds·B. E. Sauer·M. R. Tarbutt
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Abstract

Using frequency-chirped radiation pressure slowing, we precisely control the velocity of a pulsed CaF molecular beam down to a few m/s, compressing its velocity spread by a factor of 10 while retaining high intensity: at a velocity of 15~m/s the flux, measured 1.3~m from the source, is 7$\times$10$^{5}$ molecules per cm$^{2}$ per shot in a single rovibrational state. The beam is suitable for loading a magneto-optical trap or, when combined with transverse laser cooling, improving the precision of spectroscopic measurements that test fundamental physics. We compare the frequency-chirped slowing method with the more commonly used frequency-broadened slowing method.

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S. Truppe, H. J. Williams, N. J. Fitch, M. Hambach, T. E. Wall, E. A. Hinds, B. E. Sauer, M. R. Tarbutt. 2016-11-18. An intense, cold, velocity-controlled molecular beam by frequency-chirped laser slowing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630%2Faa5ca2

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