Loading Stark-decelerated molecules into electrostatic quadrupole traps

Beams of neutral polar molecules in a low-field seeking quantum state can be slowed down using a Stark decelerator, and can subsequently be loaded and confined in electrostatic quadrupole traps. The efficiency of the trap loading process is determined by the ability to couple the decelerated packet of molecules into the trap without loss of molecules and without heating. We discuss the inherent difficulties to obtain ideal trap loading, and describe and compare different trap loading strategies. A new “split-endcap” quadrupole trap design is presented that enables improved trap loading efficiencies. This is experimentally verified by comparing the trapping of OH radicals using the conventional and the new quadrupole trap designs.     

Stark-potential evaporative cooling of polar molecules in a novel optical-access opened electrostatic trap

We propose a novel optical-access opened electrostatic trap to study the Stark-potential evaporative cooling of polar molecules by using two charged disk electrodes with a central hole of radius r0= 1.5 mm, and derive a set of new analytical equations to calculate the spatial distributions of the electrostatic field in the above charged-disk layout. Afterwards, we calculate the electric-field distributions of our electrostatic trap and the Stark potential for cold ND3 molecules, and analyze the dependences of both the electric field and the Stark potential on the geometric parameters of our charged-disk scheme,and find an optimal condition to form a desirable trap with the same trap depth in the x, y, and z directions. Also, we propose a desirable scheme to realize an efficient loading of cold polar molecules in the weak-field-seeking states, and investigate the dependences of the loading efficiency on both the initial forward velocity of the incident molecular beam and the loading time by Monte Carlo simulations. Our study shows that the maximal loading efficiency of our trap scheme can reach about 95%, and the corresponding temperature of the trapped cold molecules is about 28.8 m K. Finally, we study the Stark-potential evaporative cooling for cold polar molecules in our trap by the Monte Carlo method, and find that our simulated evaporative cooling results are consistent with our developed analytical model based on trapping-potential evaporative cooling.     

一种实现冷分子囚禁的可控制静电双阱方案

提出了采用双环形载荷导线和两透明电极系统实现冷分子静电囚禁的可控制静电双阱的新方案,计算了带电圆导线和带电板所产生的静电场分布,从几个方面分析了这个囚禁方案的优点. 提出了一种有效的冷分子装载方法,并研究了双阱到单阱的演化过程. 研究表明,该可控制静电双阱方案不仅方便装载与操控弱场搜寻态的极性冷分子,而且在分子物质波的干涉、纠缠、冷碰撞,甚至进行双阱分子BEC研究等分子光学领域中有着广阔的应用前景. 关键词： 极性冷分子 静电囚禁 可控制静电双阱 分子光学     

Novel electrostatic trap for cold polar molecules

We propose a novel scheme in which cold polar molecules are trapped by an electrostatic field generated by the combination of a pair of parallel transparent electrodes (i.e., two infinite transparent plates) and a ring electrode (i.e., a ring wire). The spatial distributions of the electrostatic fields from the above charged wire and the charged plates and the corresponding Stark potentials for cold CO molecules are calculated; the dependences of the trap centre position on the geometric parameters of the electrode are analysed. We also discuss the loading process of cold molecules from a cold molecular beam into our trap. This study shows that the proposed scheme is not only simple and convenient to trap, manipulate and control cold polar molecules in weak-field-seeking states, but also provides an opportunity to study cold collisions and collective quantum effects in a variety of cold molecular systems, etc.     

芯片表面的冷极性分子静电阱与微阱阵列

提出一种利用三根载荷金属杆来实现在芯片表面陷俘冷极性分子的静电阱.给出空间静电场等高线分布.通过调节电极电压操控阱中心距离芯片表面的高度.用经典的蒙特卡罗方法模拟冷分子被装载和囚禁的动力学过程.方案对中心速度为11 m·s^-1的冷分子束,最大装载效率可以达到40%,阱中分子的温度大约为25 mK.方案可以进一步微型化、集成化,形成一维和二维静电微阱阵列,在量子计算、低维物理等方面有应用价值.     

一种针对弱场搜寻态冷极性分子的可控静电表面囚禁方案

提出一种使用带电金属环和六个球电极和一个外加偏置电场实现对冷极性分子静电囚禁的新方案.计算装载和囚禁时空间电场分布.囚禁中心距离芯片表面的高度可以通过外电场和环形电极所加电压来操控.蒙特卡罗模拟表明对于中心速度为15 m·s^-1的ND₃分子束,装载效率可以达到70%,得到冷分子的温度大约为45 mK.当继续增加偏置电场强度时,单阱分裂为对称的两个阱.如果同时改变球形电极上所加电压,得到不对称的两个阱,可以借此来调节两个阱中所囚禁的冷分子数目的比例.为了易于理解,用蒙特卡罗方法模拟了装载、囚禁、分裂冷分子波包的动力学过程.     

Two types of highly efficient electrostatic traps for single loading or multi-loading of polar molecules

Two novel electrostatic traps named octopole-based disk electrostatic trap(ODET)and tubular-based disk electrostatic trap(TDET)are proposed for trapping cold polar molecules in low-field-seeking states.Using MgF as the target molecule,single loading and multi-loading methods are numerically simulated with varied incident velocities of slow molecular beams in the two types of traps,respectively.In ODET,with an incident velocity of 10 m/s,a highest loading efficiency of 78.4% or 99.9% has been achieved under the single loading or multi-loading operation mode.In TDET,with an incident velocity of 11 m/s,a highest loading efficiency of 81.6% or 106.5% has been achieved using the two loading methods,respectively.With such high loading efficiencies,the trapped cold molecules can be applied in the researches of cold collisions,high precision spectroscopy,and precision measurements.Especially,together with a blue-detuned hollow beam,the new electrostatic traps proposed here offer a new platform for the following gradient-intensity cooling of MgF molecules,which may provide a new way to produce high density ultracold molecules.     

可操控二种冷原子或冷分子样品的光学双阱新方案及其实验研究

提出了一种构建可囚禁与操控二种冷原子或冷分子样品的光学双阱的新方案,该方案采用常用的液晶空间光调制器作为分光器件,分光调制函数类似二元相位光栅;对提出的方案进行了模拟实验研究,并研究了从光学双阱到单阱的双向演化过程,该光学双阱的模拟实验结果表明与理论方案相符,双阱的操控性好,有利于二种不同的冷原子或冷分子样品的装载与操控等相关实验研究. 关键词： 原子光学 原子分子囚禁 液晶空间光相位调制器 光学双阱     

A spatial electrostatic beam splitter for polar molecules in weak-field-seeking states

A spatial electrostatic beam splitter composed of six charged poles for polar molecules in weak-field-seeking states is proposed. First, the schematic diagram is given. With the help of finite element software the spatial distribution of the electrical field is calculated. The dynamic process of the loading and splitting polar molecules is simulated using the classical Monte Carlo method. The influences of the longitudinal velocity of the incident molecular beam and the voltages on the loading efficiency are studied. Two output arms of the beam splitter can be cut off at a certain position to adjust the splitting ratio of the molecular beam. Then the influences of the voltages and cutting positions on the splitting ratio are investigated. The results indicate that the splitting ratio can be manipulated conveniently from 0% to 100%.     

Theoretical derivation and simulation of a versatile electrostatic trap for cold polar molecules

We propose a versatile electrostatic trap scheme using several charged spherical electrodes and a bias electric held.We hrst give the two-ball scheme and derive the analytical solution of the electric held.In order to make a comparison,we also give the numerical solution calculated by the hnite element software(Ansoft Maxwell).Considering the loading of cold polar molecules into the trap,we give the three-ball scheme.We hrst give the analytical and numerical solutions of the distribution of the electric held.Then we simulate the dynamic process of the loading and trapping cold molecules using the classical Monte Carlo method.We analyze the influence of the velocity of the incident molecular beam and the loading time on the loading efficiency.After that,we give the temperature of the trapped cold molecules.Our study shows that the loading efficiency can reach 82%,and the corresponding temperature of the trapped molecules is about 24.6 mK.At last,we show that the single well divides into two ones by increasing the bias electric held or decreasing the voltages applied to the spherical electrodes.     

聚合物薄膜中生色团分子间的相互作用对其宏观二阶非线性的影响

制备了3-(1,1-二氰基噻吩)-1-苯-4,5-二羟基-H-噻唑(DCNP)与聚醚醚酮(PEK-c)组成的主客掺杂聚合物薄膜,用Maker条纹法测量了不同掺杂浓度下薄膜的二阶非线性系数χ₃₃⁽²⁾.实验结果表明,聚合物中生色团的含量高到一定程度,其宏观二阶非线性随生色团含量的增加反而下降.本文在考虑聚合物中生色团分子相互作用的情况下,修正了聚合物宏观二阶非线性与生色团的含量之间的关系,此时聚合物宏观二阶非线性与生色团的含量已非简单的正比关系.讨论了生色团分子间 关键词：     

一种可控的Ioffe型冷分子表面微电阱

囚禁于阱中的粒子(原子或分子)可获得更长的相互作用时间,因而在精密测量中可获得更高的分辨率.阱中的粒子与外界隔离,从而可以被冷却到更低的温度.因此原子(或分子)阱已广泛应用到许多研究领域.然而中心电场强度为零的势阱会导致粒子发生非绝热跃迁,这是原子或分子损失的主要来源.该损失曾是制备原子玻色-爱因斯坦凝聚的最后一道障碍.本文提出了一种可控的Ioffe型表面微电阱,其电场强度处处不为零,可有效避免分子的非绝热损失.另外,通过调节电压等参数,势阱中心电场强度以及势阱中心距芯片表面的高度可以在较大范围内调节,例如在本文参数下,势阱中心电场强度可在0.15—5.5 kV/cm变化,势阱中心高度可在6.0—17.0μm变化.本文通过有限元软件计算了芯片表面微电阱的电场分布,并用Monte Carlo模拟验证了该方案的可行性.该表面微电阱不仅可用于分子芯片的集成,而且可用于表面量子简并气体的制备.为精密测量、量子计算、表面冷碰撞和冷化学等领域提供了一个平台.     

Electrostatic Surface Trap for Cold Polar Molecules with a Charged Circular Wire

We propose a novel scheme to trap cold polar molecules on the surface of an insulating substrate （i.e. a chip） by using an inhomogeneous electrostatic field, which is generated by the combination of a circular charged wire （a ring electrode） and a grounded metal plate. The spatial distributions of the electrostatic field from the above charged wire layout and its Stark potentials for CO molecules are calculated. Our study shows that when the voltage applied to the wire is U = 15 kV, a ring radius is R = 5 mm, the thickness of the insulating substrate is b = 5 mm, and a wire radius is r = 1mm, the maximum efficient trapping potential （i.e., as equivalent temperature） for CO molecules is greater than 141.7mK, which is high enough to trap cold polar molecules with a temperature of 50 mK in the low-field-seeking states.     

Continuous loading of an electrostatic trap for polar molecules

A continuously operated electrostatic trap for polar molecules is demonstrated. The trap has a volume of approximately 0.6 cm3 and holds molecules with a positive Stark shift. With deuterated ammonia from a quadrupole velocity filter, a trap density of approximately 10(8) cm(-3) is achieved with an average lifetime of 130 ms and a motional temperature of approximately 300 mK. The trap offers good starting conditions for high-precision measurements, and can be used as a first stage in cooling schemes for molecules and as a "reaction vessel" in cold chemistry.     

Ionic effects on overstretching transition of B-DNA

A three-dimensional model is proposed herein to study the ionic effects of a NaCl solution on the overstretching transition of long B-DNA molecules. In this model, the bending deformations of DNA backbones, cooperativity of base-stacking interactions, electrostatic interactions, and spatial effects of the DNA double-helix structure are taken into account. The energy of electrostatic interactions is given as a function of the ionic strength and of the folding angle based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. An expression is derived, which shows that the overstretching force is linear with the natural logarithm of the ionic strength. The analytical results of this model are in good agreement with recently reported experimental results.     

Electrostatic microtrap on the surface of the chip

As is well known in atomic optics, the nonadiabatic transitions induce the loss of atoms trapped in a magnetic well which seriously affects the formation of the Bose-Einstein condensates. Electrostatic traps have widespread applications in molecular optics. While, for most existing electrostatic traps, the electric field strength in the trap center is nearly zero which may cause the nonadiabatic transitions. Especially for a chip-based microtrap, ingenious design is need to overcome this problem. In the paper, we propose a novel electrostatic microtrap composed of four arc-shaped electrodes. The influences of the voltages and the geometrical parameters of the electrodes on the electric field strength as well as the height of the potential well are studied. The distributions of electrostatic field are numerically calculated. We firstly simulate the trajectory of one molecule in the processes of loading and trapping. After that, we simulate the movements of a large number of molecules using the method of Monte Carlo. Then we calculate the temperature of trapped cold molecules. After that, we analyze the impacts of voltages and the geometrical parameters on the efficiency of our microtrap. At last, we show that our scheme can evolve into electrostatic microtrap arrays which should be a powerful tool for a variety of basic research and applications.     

Direct measurement of the radiative lifetime of vibrationally excited OH radicals

Neutral molecules, isolated in the gas phase, can be prepared in a long-lived excited state and stored in a trap. The long observation time afforded by the trap can then be exploited to measure the radiative lifetime of this state by monitoring the temporal decay of the population in the trap. This method is demonstrated here and used to benchmark the Einstein A coefficients in the Meinel system of OH. A pulsed beam of vibrationally excited OH radicals is Stark decelerated and loaded into an electrostatic quadrupole trap. The radiative lifetime of the upper Lamda-doublet component of the Chi2Pi3/2, v=1, J=3/2 level is determined as 59.0+/-2.0 ms, in good agreement with the calculated value of 58.0+/-1.0 ms.     

FIELD IONIZATION OF MOLECULES IN AN INTENSE LASER FIELD

In order to predict the field ionization probabilities, the accurate ab initio electrostatic potential of molecules has to be calculated. However, the calculation of the full ab initio electrostatic potential of molecules is complicated, even impossible for some larger molecules with low symmetry. Here, we present a semi-empirical model to treat the field ionization of molecules in an intense laser field. In this model, a modified Coulomb potential is used to take the place of the complicated ab initio electrostatic potential of molecules. The analytic equations of the Keldysh adiabatic parameter using the Coulomb potential and the modified Coulomb potential have first been given. Using our semi-empirical model, we have calculated the field ionization probabilities and the Keldysh adiabatic parameters of O₂, N₂, SO₂, C₂H₄, CH₃CN and C₆H₆ in an intense laser field. The results agree excellently with the calculations using the ab initio electrostatic potential of molecules. As the modified parameter for the Coulomb potential can be found from experimental measurements, the field ionization mechanism of molecules can be immediately predicted with our semi-empirical model.     

Direct loading of atoms from a macroscopic quadrupole magnetic trap into a microchip trap

We demonstrate the direct loading of cold atoms into a microchip 2-mm Z-trap, where the evaporative cooling can be performed efficiently, from a macroscopic quadrupole magnetic trap with a high loading efficiency. The macroscopic quadrupole magnetic trap potential is designed to be moveable by controlling the currents of the two pairs of anti-Helmholtz coils. The cold atoms are initially prepared in a standard six-beam magneto-optical trap and loaded into the macroscopic quadrupole magnetic trap, and then transported to the atom chip surface by moving the macroscopic trap potential. By means of a three-dimensional absorption imaging system, we are able to optimize the position alignment of the atom cloud in the macroscopic trap and the microchip Z-shaped wire. Consequently, with a proper magnetic transfer scheme, we load the cold atoms into the microchip Z-trap directly and efficiently. The loading efficiency is measured to be about 50%.This approach can be used to generate appropriate ultracold atoms sources, for example, for a magnetically guided atom interferometer based on atom chip.     

磁光阱中超冷钠-铯原子碰撞的实验研究

研究了磁光阱中异核超冷钠铯原子的碰撞机理, 测量了超冷钠原子的碰撞损失率, 得到了钠-铯原子的碰撞损失系数β_Na-Cs与钠原子俘获光强度之间的关系. 利用多普勒模型计算了不同俘获光强度下的钠原子磁光阱的阱深, 得到了临界光强的理论值, 与实验结果符合得较好.