Advanced switching schemes in a Stark decelerator

TL;DR

This paper introduces an optimized switching scheme for Stark decelerators that significantly enhances efficiency across various velocities, benefiting trapping and collision experiments, with validated experimental and simulation results.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel, optimized operation mode for Stark decelerators that outperforms previous schemes and can be extended to other deceleration methods.

Findings

Improved deceleration efficiency at low and high velocities.

Experimental validation shows superior performance.

Simulation confirms the effectiveness of the new scheme.

Abstract

We revisit the operation of the Stark decelerator and present a new, optimized operation scheme, which substantially improves the efficiency of the decelerator at both low and high final velocities, relevant for trapping experiments and collision experiments, respectively. Both experimental and simulation results show that this new mode of operation outperforms the schemes which have hitherto been in use. This new mode of operation could potentially be extended to other deceleration techniques.