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Instruments and methods of investigation


Direct laser cooling of molecules

 
The National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Konstantinov Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Orlova Roshcha, Gatchina, Leningradskaya Region, 188300, Russian Federation

The methods of laser cooling of atoms have already long been applied to obtain cold and ultracold atomic gases, including degenerate states, in particular, an atomic Bose—Einstein condensate. The application of laser cooling methods to molecules was assumed until recently to be impossible because of the complex structure of molecular levels and the absence of closed cooling cycles for transitions between electronic levels of molecules in the general case. However, it has recently become clear that laser cooling can be performed for a large class of molecules, including not only the simplest diatomic molecules but also polyatomic molecules. The review presents the general principles for identifying suitable molecules and discusses current studies on and further developments in the laser cooling of molecules.

Fulltext pdf (331 KB)
Fulltext is also available at DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2018.12.038509
Keywords: cold molecules, spectroscopy, laser cooling, electronic structure
PACS: 31.10.+z, 33.20.−t, 37.10.De (all)
DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2018.12.038509
URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2020/3/d/
000537856300004
2-s2.0-85086632398
2020PhyU...63..289I
Citation: Isaev T A "Direct laser cooling of molecules" Phys. Usp. 63 289–302 (2020)
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Received: 14th, September 2018, revised: 18th, December 2018, 26th, December 2018

Оригинал: Исаев Т А «Прямое лазерное охлаждение молекул» УФН 190 313–328 (2020); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2018.12.038509

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