Towards an AC-MOT of CaF

POSTER

Abstract

Ultra-cold diatomic molecules have rich prospects as candidates to study controlled ultra-cold chemistry, strongly correlated systems and precision measurements. They are also considered as possible qubits in quantum computing and simulation schemes. We report on progress towards loading CaF into a molecular magneto-optical trap (MOT). An AC-MOT will be used to actively remix magnetic dark states via both polarization and magnetic field switching. In order to load a molecular MOT, we have successfully laser slowed a CaF beam to near the expected capture velocity. We describe our AC-MOT apparatus, which is designed to co-trap CaF and Li. We outline our planned study of CaF-Li collisions to explore the feasibility of sympathetically cooling molecules to ultra-cold temperatures.

Authors

  • Loic Anderegg

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Eunmi Chae

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Aakash Ravi

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Benjamin Augenbraun

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Boerge Hemmerling

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Garrett Drayna

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Nicholas Hutzler

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • Alejandra Collopy

    • JILA/University of Colorado

  • Yewei Wu

    • JILA/University of Colorado

  • Shiqian Ding

    • JILA/University of Colorado

  • Jun Ye

    • JILA/University of Colorado

  • Wolfgang Ketterle

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms

  • John Doyle

    • Harvard University and Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms