Stark deceleration and trapping of OH radicals.
The motion of polar molecules can be controlled by time-varying inhomogeneous electric fields. In a Stark decelerator, this is exploited to accelerate, transport, or decelerate a fraction of a molecular beam. When combined with a trap, the decelerator provides a means to store the molecules for times up to seconds. Here, we review our efforts to produce cold molecules via this technique. In particular, we present a new generation Stark decelerator and electrostatic trap that selects a significant part of a molecular beam pulse that can be loaded into the trap. Deceleration and trapping experiments using a beam of OH radicals are discussed.
van de Meerakker
Sebastiaan Y T
SY
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 14195 Berlin, Germany. basvdm@fhi-berlin.mpg.de
Vanhaecke
Nicolas
N
Meijer
Gerard
G