Speaker
Description
In recent years, ultracold molecules have become a very promising platform for quantum information processing, studying quantum many-body physics and testing new physics beyond the Standard Model of particle physics.
Similar to alkaline earth (like) atoms (Yb, Sr, Cd) aluminium monofluoride (AlF), has a strong dipole-allowed transition (near 227.5 nm) to capture and cool a large number of molecules in a MOT and narrow spin-forbidden transitions for cooling to low temperatures in the µK range. This might allow trapping laser-cooled molecules at high enough densities to study collisions between the molecules and evaporative cooling to form a degenerate gas of polar molecules.
We present a new laser system based on Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) to generate high-power DUV light for laser cooling. We show recent progress in slowing AlF from a buffer-gas source. We present simulations for expected capture properties of a MOT as well as future directions to improve slowing and UV light generation.
