Towards redistribution laser cooling of molecular gases: Production of candidate molecules SrH by laser ablation

TL;DR

This paper reports progress towards laser cooling of molecular gases by producing SrH molecules via laser ablation and analyzing their dynamics in a pressurized noble gas environment.

Contribution

It demonstrates the production and analysis of SrH molecules through laser ablation, advancing the goal of redistribution laser cooling in molecular gases.

Findings

SrH molecules successfully produced by laser ablation

Molecular density dynamics depend on buffer gas pressure

Emission spectrum analysis confirms plasma composition

Abstract

Laser cooling by collisional redistribution of radiation has been successfully applied in the past for cooling dense atomic gases. Here we report on progress of work aiming at the demonstration of redistribution laser cooling in a molecular gas. The candidate molecule strontium monohydride is produced by laser ablation of strontium dihydride in a pressurized noble gas atmosphere. The composition of the ablation plasma plume is analyzed by measuring its emission spectrum. The dynamics of SrH molecular density following the ablation laser pulse is studied as a function of the buffer gas pressure and the laser intensity.