Zeeman-Sisyphus Deceleration of Molecular Beams

Phys Rev Lett. 2021 Dec 24;127(26):263002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.263002.

Abstract

We present a robust, continuous molecular decelerator that employs high magnetic fields and few optical pumping steps. CaOH molecules are slowed, accumulating at low velocities in a range sufficient for loading both magnetic and magneto-optical traps. During the slowing, the molecules scatter only seven photons, removing around 8 K of energy. Because large energies can be removed with only a few spontaneous radiative decays, this method can in principle be applied to nearly any paramagnetic atomic or molecular species, opening a general path to trapping of complex molecules.