Zeeman-Sisyphus Deceleration of Molecular Beams

TL;DR

This paper introduces a robust, continuous deceleration method for molecules using high magnetic fields and minimal optical pumping, enabling efficient trapping of complex paramagnetic molecules with few photon scatters.

Contribution

It presents a novel Zeeman-Sisyphus deceleration technique that requires only a few photon scatters, applicable to a wide range of paramagnetic molecules.

Findings

CaOH molecules are slowed and accumulated at low velocities.

The method removes about 8 K of energy with only 7 photon scatters.

Applicable to nearly any paramagnetic atomic or molecular species.

Abstract

We present a robust, continuous molecular decelerator that employs high magnetic fields and few optical pumping steps. CaOH molecules are slowed, accumulating at low velocities in a range sufficient for loading both magnetic and magneto-optical traps. During the slowing, the molecules scatter only 7 photons, removing around 8 K of energy. Because large energies can be removed with only a few spontaneous radiative decays, this method can be applied to nearly any paramagnetic atomic or molecular species, opening a general path to trapping of complex molecules.