Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
11:21
Cooling an Optically Trapped Ultracold Fermi Gas by Periodical Driving
Published on: March 30, 2017
7.9K
Optical Excitation and Stabilization of Ultracold Field-Linked Tetratomic Molecules
Bijit Mukherjee1, Michał Tomza1
1University of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics, Pasteura 5, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
Physical Review Letters
|January 26, 2026
Summary
We demonstrate a new method for creating deeply bound ultracold polyatomic molecules using coherent optical population transfer. This technique utilizes stimulated Raman adiabatic passage for precise control over molecular states.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Chemistry
- Molecular Physics
- Ultracold Molecules
Background:
- Field-linked (FL) tetramers are weakly bound molecular systems.
- Creating deeply bound ultracold molecules is crucial for advanced quantum applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a method for coherent optical population transfer to deeper bound states of FL tetramers.
- To explore the properties of excited electronic states supporting FL tetramers.
Main Methods:
- Stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) for population transfer.
- Calculation of Franck-Condon factors.
- Prediction of photoassociation via free-bound optical transitions.
Main Results:
- Identified an excited electronic manifold supporting FL tetramers over a wider electric field range.
- Demonstrated that collisional shielding can be extended to zero electric field.
- Showed that Franck-Condon factors are highly tunable with electric fields.
Conclusions:
- Coherent optical population transfer is a viable method for creating deeply bound ultracold polyatomic molecules.
- The proposed techniques pave the way for experimental realization of ultracold molecule formation.
- This research advances the field of ultracold molecule synthesis and control.
Related Concept Videos
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
8.9K
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein....
8.9K
01:53RNA Stability
35.7K
Intact DNA strands can be found in fossils, while scientists sometimes struggle to keep RNA intact under laboratory conditions. The structural variations between RNA and DNA underlie the differences in their stability and longevity. Because DNA is double-stranded, it is inherently more stable. The single-stranded structure of RNA is less stable but also more flexible and can form weak internal bonds. Additionally, most RNAs in the cell are relatively short, while DNA can be up to 250 million...
35.7K
03:18Nuclear Stability
23.0K
Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
To hold positively charged protons together...
23.0K
01:00Enzyme-linked Receptors
86.4K
Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
86.4K
01:19X-linked Traits
58.3K
In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.
58.3K
01:28Stability
405
The time response of a linear time-invariant (LTI) system can be divided into transient and steady-state responses. The transient response represents the system's initial reaction to a change in input and diminishes to zero over time. In contrast, the steady-state response is the behavior that persists after the transient effects have faded.
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
The stability of an LTI system is determined by the roots of its characteristic equation, known as poles. A system is stable if it produces a bounded...
405