ECAMP 15

The creation of ultracold polar molecules has been actively pursued by many research groups. Up to now, these molecules have mainly composed of alkali dimers, limiting the maximum achievable permanent electric dipole moment to approximately 5.5 D (using LiCs). However, fully polarizing these molecular samples requires substantial electric fields of several kV/cm, presenting a technical challenge.

Here, we introduce first steps towards the production of ultracold CsAg and KAg molecules, which can achieve electric dipole moments nearing 10 D in the absolute ro-vibrational ground state. For CsAg, dipole moments exceeding 13 D can be attained in higher vibrational levels of the ground state potential, requiring only 0.3 kV/cm to fully polarize the sample.

The constructed setup will use two 2D MOTs as sources of pre-cooled atoms: one for potassium and cesium, and a separate one for silver. This approach will avoid technical issues with coating the window opposing the silver atomic beam generated by the Zeeman slower and will result in a particularly compact vacuum system.

With enriched potassium dispensers and a versatile potassium laser system we have constructed, we will be able to switch between $^{39}$K, $^{40}$K, and $^{41}$K, facilitating studies of both bosonic and fermionic KAg molecules.

We have performed high resolution, Doppler-free spectroscopy of molecular iodine at 656 nm to provide a frequency reference for a laser system that, after frequency doubling, delivers over 2 W of cooling light at 328 nm.