Electric-field-controlled cold dipolar collisions between trapped CH$_3$F molecules

TL;DR

This study demonstrates high-density trapping and electric-field control of cold CH₃F molecules, enabling detailed investigation of dipolar collisions and relaxation processes relevant for quantum molecular research.

Contribution

The paper introduces a cryofuge-based method to trap high densities of polyatomic molecules and demonstrates electric-field tuning of collision rates at millikelvin temperatures.

Findings

Achieved densities up to 10^7/cm^3 at 350 mK.

Controlled inelastic collision rates via electric fields.

Excellent agreement with ab-initio dipolar relaxation calculations.

Abstract

Reaching high densities is a key step towards cold-collision experiments with polyatomic molecules. We use a cryofuge to load up to 2$\times10^7$ CH$_3$F molecules into a box-like electric trap, achieving densities up to 10$^7$/cm$^3$ at temperatures around 350 mK where the elastic dipolar cross-section exceeds 7$\times$10$^{-12}$cm$^2$. We measure inelastic rate constants below 4$\times$10$^{-8}$cm$^3$/s and control these by tuning a homogeneous electric field that covers a large fraction of the trap volume. Comparison to ab-initio calculations gives excellent agreement with dipolar relaxation. Our techniques and findings are generic and immediately relevant for other cold-molecule collision experiments.