Ultracold polyatomic molecules: a quantum toolbox for fundamental investigation

DIPC Seminars

Speaker

Martin Zeppenfeld, Max-Planck Institut for Quantum Optics, Garching

When

2021/09/16
14:00

Place

Online Seminar, Donostia International Physics Center

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Quantum control of molecules at ultracold temperatures provides enormous potential for groundbreaking discoveries. Precision measurements on molecules provide insight on physics beyond the standard model and might help answer fundamental questions related to the origin of life. The many internal degrees of freedom and long range dipole-dipole interactions provide valuable resources for quantum information processing. Full quantum control of chemical reaction pathways provides opportunities to test and validate ab initio methods. Strong long-range dipole-dipole interactions in a molecular quantum degenerate gas would allow investigation of new quantum phases of matter. Motivated by these efforts, the last decade has seen enormous progress in development of experimental techniques to provide the required ultracold molecule ensembles. Here, my group has pioneered a number of techniques providing us with unique possibilities to control and manipulate polyatomic molecules. This includes a centrifuge decelerator to slow bright molecular beams from a cryogenic buffergas source, a microstructured electric trap allowing molecules to be confined on minute timescales, and optical pumping on vibrational transitions allowing cooling and internal state control of molecules without optical cycling transitions. In my talk, I will provide an overview of the field and introduce the various techniques we have developed. This includes my latest project, using Rydberg atoms as a highly sensitive nondestructive detector of cold molecules. Host: Geza Giedke ZOOM: https://dipc-org.zoom.us/j/84957859912 YouTube: https://youtu.be/GRkRMotdZzM