title: Ultracold fluorine production via Doppler cooled BeF.
abstract: Large parts of the periodic table cannot be cooled by current laser-based methods. We investigate whether zero energy fragmentation of laser cooled fluorides is a potential source of ultracold fluorine atoms. We report new ab initio calculations on the lowest electronic states of the BeF diatomic molecule including spin-orbit coupling, the calculated minima for the valence electronic states being within 1 pm of the spectroscopic values. A four colour cooling scheme based on the A(2)Π← X(2)Σ(+) transition is shown to be feasible for this molecule. Multi-Reference Configuration Interaction (MRCI) potentials of the lowest energy Rydberg states are reported for the first time and found to be in good agreement with experimental data. A series of multi-pulse excitation schemes from a single rovibrational level of the cooled molecule are proposed to produce cold fluorine atoms.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, UK BT9 5AG. i.lane@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lane