Magneto optical trap of Rb2 molecules and colissional studies

Abstract

In recent years, our laboratory has completely mastered the dipole optic trap technique. Currently, we produce daily trapped samples of one or two atomic species using a high power laser at 1.06 ¼m. Such samples generally have 10 6 atoms trapped at densities of 10 12 atoms / cm 3 and temperatures less than 20 ¼K. Today, this trapped sample is the starting point for any modern experiment in atomic physics.It would be much desired, we can do the same manipulations with cold molecules. However, the cooling and entrapment of molecules is very complex. But using our recent results, we believe we will be able to perform such a feat. Thus, the purpose of this project is to decelerate a molecular supersonic beam of Rb2 for trapping in a molecular magneto-optical trap.