A cryofuge for cold-collision experiments with slow polar molecules

Area of Science:

• Physics and Chemistry
• Ultracold Molecules
• Quantum Phenomena

Background:

• Preparing dense samples of ultracold molecules at low velocities is a significant challenge in molecular physics.
• Existing methods often struggle to achieve the necessary densities and low kinetic energies for detailed study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method, the cryofuge, for preparing dense samples of ultracold molecules.
• To enable the study of cold dipolar collisions and determine their cross sections.

Main Methods:

• Utilized centrifugal force on cryogenically cooled molecules.
• Achieved kinetic energies below 1 K × k_B (Boltzmann constant) in the laboratory frame.
• Employed samples of fluoromethane and deuterated ammonia.

Main Results:

• Generated molecular fluxes exceeding 10¹⁰ per second at velocities below 20 m/s.
• Attained sample densities higher than 10⁹ molecules per cubic centimeter.
• Observed and analyzed cold dipolar collisions between molecules.

Conclusions:

• The cryofuge method is effective for producing dense ultracold molecular samples.
• This technique facilitates the study of molecular interactions at low temperatures.
• Collision cross sections for cold dipolar interactions were successfully determined.