Search NASA⌕ Search

DOE OSTI · 3376375

High Compression Blue-Detuned Magneto-Optical Trap of Polyatomic Molecules

Abstract

We demonstrate a blue-detuned magneto-optical trap (MOT) of a polyatomic molecule, calcium monohydroxide (CaOH). We identify a novel MOT frequency configuration that produces high spatial compression of the molecular cloud. This high compression MOT achieves a cloud radius of 59⁢(5) μ⁢m and a peak density of 8⁢(2) ×10 8 cm −3 . We experimentally compare several blue-detuned MOT schemes for CaOH and find good agreement between our data and Monte Carlo simulations.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Hallas, Christian [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000308696500), Li, Grace K. [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)], Vilas, Nathaniel B. [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000191751990), Robichaud, Paige [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)], Anderegg, Loïc [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)] (ORCID:0000000242823369), Doyle, John M. [Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (United States)]. 2026-04-01. High Compression Blue-Detuned Magneto-Optical Trap of Polyatomic Molecules. https://doi.org/10.1103/w9qc-rczf

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related reports

Tunable pairing with local spin-dependent Rydberg molecule potentials in an atomic Fermi superfluid

We explore the energy spectrum and eigenstates of two-component atomic Fermi superfluids with tunable pairing interactions in the presence of spin-dependent ultralong-range Rydberg molecule (ULRM) potentials, within the Bogoliubov–de Gennes formalism. The attractive ULRM potentials lead to local-density accumulation, while their difference results in a local polarization potential and induces the in-gap Yu-Shiba-Rusinov (YSR) states whose energies lie below the bulk energy gap. A transition from equal population to population imbalance occurs as the pairing strength falls below a critical value, accompanied by the emergence of local Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO)–like states characterized by out-of-phase wave functions and lower energies compared to the YSR states. The negative contribution emanating from the FFLO-like states also causes a sign change in the gap function within the ULRM potentials. Depending on the Rydberg excitation, the transition towards population imbalance can be on either the BCS or the Bose-Einstein condensation side of the Fermi superfluid. Additionally, spin-polarized bound states arise along with oscillatory “clumpy states” to compensate for the local-density difference. Here, we discuss possible experimental realizations of the composite Rydberg-atom–Fermi-superfluid system.

Cold and ultracold molecules↗