A Centrifuge Decelerator: Slowing down Continuous Beams of Polar Molecules by an Inertial Force

We present the concept of and show compelling experimental results from a novel and versatile decelerator for continuous beams of neutral polar molecules, which employs the centrifugal potential in a rotating frame. A beam of polar molecules is injected at the periphery and electrically guided [1] to the center of the rotating frame along a spiral-shaped electrostatic quadrupole guide. Thus the molecules climb up the centrifugal potential hill and get decelerated as they propagate. In proof-of-principle experiments we demonstrate the deceleration of continuous beams of neutral CF$_3$H, CH$_3$F, and CF$_3$CCH from a liquid-nitrogen cooled effusive source, yielding continuous output intensities exceeding $10^8\,\rm{molecules}\,\rm{mm^{-2}}\,\rm{s^{-1}}$ with velocities below $20\,\rm{m}\,\rm{s^{-1}}$.\\[4pt] [1] S.A. Rangwala et al., Phys. Rev. A {\bf 67}, 043406 (2003)