2021/08/22 by J. C. Shaw, Shaw, J. C., Juergen Schnaubelt +4
Chemistry · Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph) #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #FOS: Physical sciences #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Spectroscopy and Laser Applications #physics.atom-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2108.09820
7 pages, 4 figures
openalex publication_date 2021/08/22 · arxiv created 2021/08/24 · arxiv updated 2021/08/26 · openalex created_date 2022/10/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
We propose and demonstrate a novel technique that combines Raman scattering and optical cycling in molecules with diagonal Franck-Condon factors. This resonance Raman optical cycling manipulates molecules to behave like efficient fluorophores with discrete absorption and emission profiles that are readily separated for sensitive fluorescence detection in high background light environments. Using a molecular beam of our test species, SrF, we realize up to an average of ≈20 spontaneously emitted photons per molecule, limited by the interaction time, while using a bandpass filter to suppress detected scattered laser light by ∼106. This general technique represents a powerful tool for high-fidelity fluorescence detection of molecules in any setting and is particularly well-suited to molecular laser cooling and trapping experiments.