Characterization of a cryogenic beam source for atoms and molecules

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation and properties of atomic and molecular beams from a cryogenic buffer gas cell, combining experiments and simulations to understand how helium flow affects beam characteristics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of beam formation from a cryogenic buffer gas cell using both experimental data and finite element modeling, highlighting flow dynamics and beam properties.

Findings

Helium flow influences beam speed, temperature, and divergence.

Finite element model accurately predicts flow dynamics and beam behavior.

Optimized helium flow improves extraction efficiency.

Abstract

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of beam formation from a cryogenic buffer gas cell. Atoms and molecules are loaded into the cell by laser ablation of a target, and are cooled and swept out of the cell by a flow of cold helium. We study the thermalization and flow dynamics inside the cell and measure how the speed, temperature, divergence and extraction efficiency of the beam are influenced by the helium flow. We use a finite element model to simulate the flow dynamics and use the predictions of this model to interpret our experimental results.