title: Laser radiation pressure slowing of a molecular beam.
abstract: We demonstrate deceleration of a beam of neutral strontium monofluoride molecules using radiative forces. Under certain conditions, the deceleration results in a substantial flux of detected molecules with velocities ≲50  m/s. Simulations and other data indicate that the detection of molecules below this velocity is greatly diminished by transverse divergence from the beam. The observed slowing, from ∼140  m/s, corresponds to scattering ≳10(4) photons. We also observe longitudinal velocity compression under different conditions. Combined with molecular laser cooling techniques, this lays the groundwork to create slow and cold molecular beams suitable for trap loading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Yale University, P.O. Box 208120, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. john.barry@yale.edu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Shuman
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Norrgard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeMille