Magnetic trapping and coherent control of laser-cooled molecules

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the coherent microwave control and magnetic trapping of ultracold CaF molecules, achieving long trapping times and state-specific collision measurements, advancing quantum control of molecules.

Contribution

It introduces a method for coherent microwave manipulation and magnetic trapping of ultracold molecules in a specific quantum state, with detailed collision rate measurements.

Findings

Trapped about 5,000 molecules for 2 seconds

Achieved a temperature of 65 microkelvin

Measured state-specific loss rates due to helium collisions

Abstract

We demonstrate coherent microwave control of the rotational, hyperfine and Zeeman states of ultracold CaF molecules, and the magnetic trapping of these molecules in a single, selectable quantum state. We trap about $5\times 10^{3}$ molecules for 2 s at a temperature of 65(11) $\mu$K and a density of $1.2 \times 10^{5}$ cm$^{-3}$. We measure the state-specific loss rate due to collisions with background helium.