A buffer gas beam source for short, intense and slow molecular pulses

TL;DR

This paper presents a cryogenic buffer gas source for CaF molecules that produces short, intense, and slow molecular pulses suitable for cold molecule experiments.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel buffer gas source design that generates high-flux, slow molecular pulses with specific timing and velocity characteristics.

Findings

Pulse duration of 240 microseconds

Mean molecular speed of 150 m/s

Flux of 5×10^10 molecules per steradian per pulse

Abstract

Experiments with cold molecules usually begin with a molecular source. We describe the construction and characteristics of a cryogenic buffer gas source of CaF molecules. The source emits pulses with a typical duration of 240 $\mu$s, a mean speed of about 150 m/s, and a flux of $5\times 10^{10}$ molecules per steradian per pulse in a single rotational state.