Alternating gradient focusing and deceleration of polar molecules

2006/04/30 by Hendrick L. Bethlem, M. R. Tarbutt, Jochen Küpper +4 · 5 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #physics.atom-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0953-4075/39/16/r01

published as J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 39 (2006) R263-R291 · fix author names

openalex publication_date 2006/08/08 · arxiv created 2010/03/24 · arxiv updated 2010/03/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Beams of polar molecules can be focused using an array of electrostatic lenses in alternating gradient (AG) configuration. They can also be accelerated or decelerated by applying an appropriate high-voltage switching sequence to the lenses. AG focusing is applicable to molecules in both low-field- and high-field-seeking states and is particularly well suited to the problem of decelerating heavy molecules and those in their ground rotational state. We describe the principles of AG deceleration and set out criteria to be followed in decelerator design, construction and operation. We calculate the longitudinal and transverse focusing properties of a decelerator, and exemplify this by 2D-imaging studies of a decelerated beam of metastable CO molecules.

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