Eric Norrgard

Laser radiation pressure slowing of a molecular beam.

We demonstrate deceleration of a beam of neutral strontium monofluoride molecules using radiative forces. Under certain conditions, the deceleration results in a substantial flux of detected molecules with velocities ≲50  m/s. Simulations and other data indicate that the detection of molecules below this velocity is greatly diminished by transverse divergence from the beam. The observed slowing, from ∼140  m/s, corresponds to scattering ≳10(4) photons. We also observe longitudinal velocity compression under different conditions. Combined with molecular laser cooling techniques, this lays the groundwork to create slow and cold molecular beams suitable for trap loading.

Submillikelvin Dipolar Molecules in a Radio-Frequency Magneto-Optical Trap.

We demonstrate a scheme for magneto-optically trapping strontium monofluoride (SrF) molecules at temperatures one order of magnitude lower and phase space densities 3 orders of magnitude higher than obtained previously with laser-cooled molecules. In our trap, optical dark states are destabilized by rapidly and synchronously reversing the trapping laser polarizations and the applied magnetic field gradient. The number of molecules and trap lifetime are also significantly improved from previous work by loading the trap with high laser power and then reducing the power for long-term trapping. With this procedure, temperatures as low as 400  μK are achieved.

Improved magneto–optical trapping of a diatomic molecule

gradient and the laser polarization at RF frequencies. Although magneto-optical trapping of diatomic molecules is in its infancy, our results indicate that access to the ultracold regime may be possible for several molecular species, with potential applications from quantum simulation to tests of fundamental symmetries to ultracold chemistry.

On the transverse confinement of radiatively slowed molecular beams

Radiative forces from near-resonant laser light can be used for cooling and slowing the motion of diatomic molecules. While radiative-force slowing can be efficient in reducing the longitudinal velocity of molecules in a beam, this method has so far resulted in relatively low fluxes of slow molecules available for loading into a trap. This is primarily due to the divergence of the molecular beam, which increases in inverse proportion to the forward velocity. In this paper, we discuss methods to transversely confine molecules as they are slowed by radiative forces. We focus in particular on a promising method that uses a microwave field tuned to the blue of a rotational transition in the molecule, to provide the confining force.We argue that with a realistic design, this approach can improve the useful flux of slow molecules from radiative slowing by a factor of ∼100.

Hyperfine structure of the B3Π1 state and predictions of optical cycling behavior in the X→B transition of TlF

The rotational and hyperfine spectrum of the

In-vacuum scattered light reduction with black cupric oxide surfaces for sensitive fluorescence detection

X^1\Sigma^+ \rightarrow B^3\Pi_1

Magneto-optical trapping of a diatomic molecule

transition in TlF molecules was measured using laser-induced fluorescence from both a thermal and a cryogenic molecular beam. Rotational and hyperfine constants for the

Transverse measurements of polarization in optically pumped Rb vapor cells

B

A 3D-printed alkali metal dispenser

state are obtained. The large magnetic hyperfine interaction of the Tl nuclear spin leads to significant mixing of the lowest

Light-induced atomic desorption of lithium

B