Alternate gradient focusing and deceleration of a molecular beam.
Neutral dipolar molecules can be decelerated and trapped using time-varying inhomogeneous electric fields. This has been demonstrated only for molecules in low-field seeking states, but can, in principle, be performed on molecules in high-field seeking states as well. Transverse stability is then much more difficult to obtain, however, since molecules in high-field seeking states always experience a force towards the electrodes. Here we demonstrate that an array of dipole lenses in alternate gradient configuration can be used to maintain transverse stability. A pulsed beam of metastable CO in high-field seeking states is accelerated from 275 to 289 m/s as well as decelerated from 275 to 260 m/s.
Bethlem
Hendrick L
HL
FOM-Institute for Plasma Physics Rijnhuizen, P.O. Box 1207, NL-3430 BE Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
van Roij
André J A
AJ
Jongma
Rienk T
RT
Meijer
Gerard
G