title: Driving rotational transitions in molecules on a chip.
abstract: Polar molecules in selected quantum states can be guided, decelerated, and trapped using electric fields created by microstructured electrodes on a chip. Herein we explore how transitions between two of these quantum states can be induced while the molecules are on the chip. We use CO (a(3) Π(1) , v=0) molecules, prepared in the J=1 rotational level, and induce the J=2←J=1 rotational transition with narrow-band sub-THz (mm-wave) radiation. First, the mm-wave source is characterized using CO molecules in a freely propagating molecular beam, and both Rabi cycling and rapid adiabatic passage are examined. Then we demonstrate that the mm-wave radiation can be coupled to CO molecules that are less than 50 μm above the chip. Finally, CO molecules are guided in the J=1 level to the center of the chip where they are pumped to the J=2 level, recaptured, and guided off the chip.
authors.affiliation: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany. gabriele.santambrogio@fhi-berlin.mpg.de
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santambrogio
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.forename: Liam M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meijer