Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving
Published on: March 30, 2017
Effects of spin-orbit coupling on laser cooling of BeI and MgI
Mingjie Wan1, Duohui Huang1, Juxiang Shao1
1Computational Physics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Yibin University, Yibin 644007, China.
Abstract:
We present the ab initio study of spin-orbit coupling effects on laser cooling of BeI and MgI molecules. Potential energy curves for the X(2)Σ(+)(1/2), A(2)Π(1/2,3/2), and 2(2)Π(3/2,1/2) states are calculated using multi-reference configuration interaction method plus Davidson corrections. Spectroscopic parameters of BeI and MgI are in excellent agreement with available experimental and theoretical values. The A(2)Π(3/2) state of MgI is a repulsive state. It is an unsuitable scheme for the A(2)Π(3/2)(υ')← X(2)Σ(+)(1/2) (υ″) transition for laser cooling of MgI. Highly diagonally distributed Franck-Condon factors f00 for the A(2)Π(1/2,3/2) (υ' = 0) ← X(2)Σ(+)(1/2) (υ″ = 0) transitions and suitable radiative lifetimes τ for the A(2)Π(1/2,3/2) (υ' = 0) of BeI and MgI are obtained. Three laser wavelength drives are required for the A(2)Π(1/2,3/2)(υ')←X(2)Σ(+)(1/2) (υ″) transitions of BeI and MgI. The proposed cooling wavelengths of BeI and MgI are both in the violet region. The results imply the feasibility of laser cooling of BeI and MgI, and that laser cooling of BeI is more possible.
Related Concept Videos
Spin–Spin Coupling: Two-Bond Coupling (Geminal Coupling)
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
Spin–Spin Coupling Constant: Overview
Qualitatively, any spin plus-half nucleus polarizes the spins of its electrons to the minus-half state. Consequently, the paired electron in the hydrogen–carbon bond must...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Spin–Spin Coupling: Three-Bond Coupling (Vicinal Coupling)
The extent of coupling depends on the C‑C bond length, the two H‑C‑C angles, any electron-withdrawing substituents, and the dihedral angle between the involved orbitals. The...
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview

