Session H6: Ultracold Molecules and Quantum Many Body Physics
8:00 AM–11:00 AM, Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Room: Ballroom C2
Sponsoring Unit:
DAMOP
Chair: Lincoln Carr, Colorado School of Mines
Abstract ID: BAPS.2011.MAR.H6.4
Abstract: H6.00004 : Laser Cooling of a Diatomic Molecule
9:48 AM–10:24 AM
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Abstract 
Author:
Edward Shuman
(Yale University)
Laser cooling techniques to produce ultracold (T$<$1$\mu$K) atoms have lead to rapid advances in a wide array of fields. However, extending laser cooling to molecules has remained elusive. The primary problem is that laser cooling requires a large number ($>$104) of photon absorption/emission cycles. Molecules, however, have vibrational and rotational degrees of freedom, which typically lead to high branching probabilities into a large number of unwanted sublevels. Here we report on experiments demonstrating the laser cooling of a diatomic molecule which have overcome this problem. We use the molecule strontium monofluoride (SrF) where only three lasers and a magnetic field are necessary to scatter $>$105 photons. We have demonstrated 1-D transverse cooling of a beam of SrF, dominated by Doppler or Sisyphus-type cooling forces depending on experimental parameters. We observe a reduction in the velocity distribution by a factor of 3 or more, corresponding to final 1-D temperature T $<$ 1 mK. This transverse cooling may be useful for a variety of experiments; in addition, our results open a path to trapping and 3D cooling of SrF to the ultracold regime.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2011.MAR.H6.4