2018/07/17 by Prehn, Alexander, Ibrügger, Martin, Rempe, Gerhard +1
#Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Chemical Physics (physics.chem-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1807.06618
We present precision spectroscopy on electrically trapped formaldehyde (H2CO), demonstrating key attributes which will enable molecular spectroscopy with unprecedented precision. Our method makes use of a microstructured electric trap with homogeneous fields in the trap center and rotational transitions with minimal Stark broadening at a 'magic' offset electric field. Using molecules cooled to the low millikelvin temperature regime via optoelectrical Sisyphus cooling, we reduce Stark broadening on the J=5←4 (K=3) transition at 364 GHz to well below 1 kHz, observe Doppler-limited linewidths down to 3.8 kHz, and determine the line position with sub-kHz uncertainty. Our results and clear prospects for even narrower spectra pave the way towards in-trap precision spectroscopy on diverse molecule species.