Stern-Gerlach deflection of field-free aligned paramagnetic molecules

TL;DR

This paper investigates how laser prealignment influences the magnetic deflection of paramagnetic molecules, revealing different effects based on molecular coupling cases, which is crucial for molecular guiding and trapping technologies.

Contribution

It identifies distinct effects of laser prealignment on molecular deflection depending on Hund's coupling case, advancing understanding of molecular control in magnetic fields.

Findings

Suppression of deflection in Hund's case (a) molecules like ClO.

Reconstruction of scattering angles into narrow peaks for Hund's case (b) molecules like O2.

Implications for molecular guiding, focusing, and trapping applications.

Abstract

The effects of laser-induced prealignment on the deflection of paramagnetic molecules by inhomogeneous static magnetic field are studied. Depending on the relevant Hund's coupling case of the molecule, two different effects were identified: either suppression of the deflection by laser pulses (Hund's coupling case (a) molecules, such as ClO), or a dramatic reconstruction of the broad distribution of the scattering angles into several narrow peaks (for Hund's coupling case (b) molecules, such as O2 or NH). These findings are important for various applications using molecular guiding, focusing and trapping with the help of magnetic fields.