2021/03/01 by N. J. Fitch, M. R. Tarbutt · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #physics.atom-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/bs.aamop.2021.04.003
published as Adv. At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 70, 157-262 (2021) · Review article prepared for Advances in Atomic, Molecular & Optical Physics. 119 pages, 27 figures
arxiv created 2021/03/01 · arxiv updated 2021/12/14
The last few years have seen rapid progress in the application of laser cooling to molecules. In this review, we examine what kinds of molecules can be laser cooled, how to design a suitable cooling scheme, and how the cooling can be understood and modelled. We review recent work on laser slowing, magneto-optical trapping, sub-Doppler cooling, and the confinement of molecules in conservative traps, with a focus on the fundamental principles of each technique. Finally, we explore some of the exciting applications of laser-cooled molecules that should be accessible in the near term.