An AC electric trap for ground-state molecules
Atomic Physics
2009-11-11 v1 Chemical Physics
Abstract
We here report on the realization of an electrodynamic trap, capable of trapping neutral atoms and molecules in both low-field and high-field seeking states. Confinement in three dimensions is achieved by switching between two electric field configurations that have a saddle-point at the center of the trap, i.e., by alternating a focusing and a defocusing force in each direction. AC trapping of 15ND3 molecules is experimentally demonstrated, and the stability of the trap is studied as a function of the switching frequency. A 1 mK sample of 15ND3 molecules in the high-field seeking component of the |J,K>=|1,1> level, the ground-state of para-ammonia, is trapped in a volume of about 1 mm^3.
Cite
@article{arxiv.physics/0501092,
title = {An AC electric trap for ground-state molecules},
author = {Jacqueline van Veldhoven and Hendrick L. Bethlem and Gerard Meijer},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:physics/0501092},
year = {2009}
}