High Compression Blue-Detuned Magneto-Optical Trap of Polyatomic Molecules

TL;DR

This paper reports the first high-density blue-detuned magneto-optical trap for polyatomic molecules, achieving unprecedented molecular cloud compression and density, validated by experiments and simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel blue-detuned MOT configuration for CaOH molecules, achieving record-high density and compression not previously reported.

Findings

Achieved a molecular cloud radius of 59 micrometers.

Reached a peak density of 8 x 10^8 cm^-3.

Experimental results agree well with Monte-Carlo simulations.

Abstract

We demonstrate a blue-detuned magneto-optical trap (MOT) of a polyatomic molecule, calcium monohydroxide (CaOH). We identify a novel MOT frequency configuration that produces high spatial compression of the molecular cloud. This high compression MOT achieves a cloud radius of $59(5)~\mu\text{m}$ and a peak density of $8(2) \times 10^8~\text{cm}^{-3}$, the highest reported density for a molecular MOT to date. We compare our experimental studies of blue-detuned MOTs for CaOH and compare with Monte-Carlo simulations, finding good agreement.