arXiv subjects

Brian Odom

Publications and source records attributed to Brian Odom.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2016

Novel, Retroreflective, Magneto-Optical Trap Near a Surface

We report on a novel Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT) geometry involving the retroreflection of one of the six MOT beams in order to create an atom cloud close to the surface of a prism which does not have optical access along one axis. A MOT of Rb$^{85}$ with $\sim 4 \times 10^7$ atoms can be created 700 um from the surface. The MOT lies close to the minimum of an evanescent Gravito-Optical Surface Trap (GOST) allowing for transfer into the GOST with potentially minimal losses.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Optical pulse-shaping for internal cooling of molecules

We consider the use of pulse-shaped broadband femtosecond lasers to optically cool rotational and vibrational degrees of freedom of molecules. Since this approach relies on cooling rotational and vibrational quanta by exciting an electronic transition, it is most easily applicable to molecules with similar ground and excited potential energy surfaces, such that the vibrational state is usually unchanged during electronic relaxation. Compared with schemes that cool rotations by exciting vibrations, this approach achieves internal cooling on the orders-of- magnitude faster electronic decay timescale and is potentially applicable to apolar molecules. For AlH+, a candidate species, a rate-equation simulation indicates that rovibrational equilibrium should be achievable in 8 μs. In addition, we report laboratory demonstration of optical pulse shaping with sufficient resolution and power for rotational cooling of AlH+.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2011

Challenges of laser-cooling molecular ions

The direct laser cooling of neutral diatomic molecules in molecular beams suggests that trapped molecular ions can also be laser cooled. The long storage time and spatial localization of trapped molecular ions provides the opportunity for multi-step cooling strategies, but also requires a careful consideration of rare molecular transitions. We briefly summarize the requirements that a diatomic molecule must meet for laser cooling, and we identify a few potential molecular ion candidates. We then perform a detailed computational study of the candidates BH+ and AlH+, including improved ab initio calculations of the electronic state potential energy surfaces and transition rates for rare dissociation events. Based on an analysis of population dynamics, we determine which transitions must be addressed for laser cooling and compare experimental schemes using continuous-wave and pulsed lasers

physics.atom-ph↗