arXiv · quant-ph/0206132
Blackbody-radiation-assisted molecular laser cooling
Abstract
The translational motion of molecular ions can be effectively cooled sympathetically to temperatures below 100 mK in ion traps through Coulomb interactions with laser-cooled atomic ions. The distribution of internal rovibrational states, however, gets in thermal equilibrium with the typically much higher temperature of the environment within tens of seconds. We consider a concept for rotational cooling of such internally hot, but translationally cold heteronuclear diatomic molecular ions. The scheme relies on a combination of optical pumping from a few specific rotational levels into a ``dark state'' with redistribution of rotational populations mediated by blackbody radiation.
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I. S. Vogelius, L. B. Madsen, M. Drewsen. 2002-06-19. Blackbody-radiation-assisted molecular laser cooling. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.89.173003
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