title: Laser cooling of molecular anions.
abstract: We propose a scheme for laser cooling of negatively charged molecules. We briefly summarize the requirements for such laser cooling and we identify a number of potential candidates. A detailed computation study with C_{2}^{-}, the most studied molecular anion, is carried out. Simulations of 3D laser cooling in a gas phase show that this molecule could be cooled down to below 1 mK in only a few tens of milliseconds, using standard lasers. Sisyphus cooling, where no photodetachment process is present, as well as Doppler laser cooling of trapped C_{2}^{-}, are also simulated. This cooling scheme has an impact on the study of cold molecules, molecular anions, charged particle sources, and antimatter physics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, ENS Cachan, Bâtiment 505, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yzombard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, ENS Cachan, Bâtiment 505, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamamda
authors.affiliation: CERN, European Laboratory for Particle Physics, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.affiliation: CERN, European Laboratory for Particle Physics, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doser
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, ENS Cachan, Bâtiment 505, 91405 Orsay, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Comparat