Continuous loading of an electrostatic trap for polar molecules.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2005;
95:173002. [PMID:
16383826 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.95.173002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A continuously operated electrostatic trap for polar molecules is demonstrated. The trap has a volume of approximately 0.6 cm3 and holds molecules with a positive Stark shift. With deuterated ammonia from a quadrupole velocity filter, a trap density of approximately 10(8) cm(-3) is achieved with an average lifetime of 130 ms and a motional temperature of approximately 300 mK. The trap offers good starting conditions for high-precision measurements, and can be used as a first stage in cooling schemes for molecules and as a "reaction vessel" in cold chemistry.
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