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Rydberg-State-Enabled Deceleration and Trapping of Cold Molecules

S. D. Hogan, Ch. Seiler, and F. Merkt
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 123001 – Published 14 September 2009
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Abstract

Hydrogen molecules in selected core-nonpenetrating Rydberg-Stark states have been decelerated from a mean initial velocity of 500m/s to zero velocity in the laboratory frame and loaded into a three-dimensional electrostatic trap. Trapping times, measured by pulsed electric field ionization of the trapped molecules, are found to be limited by collisional processes. As Rydberg states can be deexcited to the absolute ground state, the method can be applied to generate cold samples of a wide range of species.

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  • Received 6 June 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.123001

©2009 American Physical Society

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Molecules on a string

Published 14 September 2009

An electric field can be used to pull on molecular hydrogen’s highly excited outer electron to slow down and trap the molecule.

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Authors & Affiliations

S. D. Hogan, Ch. Seiler, and F. Merkt

  • Laboratorium für Physikalische Chemie, ETH Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland

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Issue

Vol. 103, Iss. 12 — 18 September 2009

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