arXiv subjects

David Carty

Publications and source records attributed to David Carty.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

A Moving-Trap Zeeman Decelerator

We present a moving-trap Zeeman decelerator (MTZD) for use in molecular beam manipulation and magnetic-trapping experiments of paramagnetic atoms and molecules. The 0.49 m MTZD consists of a combination of a 2D magnetic quadrupole guide and deceleration coils, which together produce an array of 3D magnetic traps. The design is based on that of Trimeche et al. with significant modifications. The 2D quadrupole is driven by fast rising and falling square pulses of current (up to 700 A) of arbitrary lengths of time. The traps can be made to move at velocities from ca. 370 m/s down to zero, which is done by driving through the deceleration coils a sinusoidal current with frequencies ranging from zero to ca. 9 kHz and peak currents up to 1000 A. The trap velocity is proportional to the current frequency. The MTZD manipulates the velocities of molecular beams by traveling initially at the same velocity as the beam. 3D guiding is achieved with a constant current frequency and deceleration is achieved with a downward chirp of the current frequency at a rate corresponding to the desired deceleration. We explain the technical design and operation principles of the MTZD and we detail the custom power electronics that drive the 2D quadrupole guide and the decelerator coils. We present extensive Monte-Carlo trajectory simulations to demonstrate the properties of the MTZD and we conclude that decelerations should be kept below 30000 m/s/s to maintain a good 6D phase-space acceptance. In proof-of-principle experiments, with the deceleration coils operating with a reduced current in the range 100-200 A, we demonstrate the 3D guiding of a beam of metastable argon atoms at 373 m/s and deceleration at 25000 m/s/s from 342 m/s to 304 m/s. The deceleration corresponds to the removal of 21% of the kinetic energy of the beam.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Magnetic Trapping of Cold Methyl Radicals

We have demonstrated that a supersonic beam of methyl radicals (CH$_3$) in the ground rotational state of both $para$ and $ortho$ species has been slowed down to standstill with a magnetic molecular decelerator, and successfully captured spatially in an anti-Helmholtz magnetic trap for $>$ 1 s. The trapped CH$_3$ radicals have a mean translational temperature of about 200 mK with an estimated density of $>5.0\times10^7$ cm$^{-3}$. The methyl radical is an ideal system for the study of cold molecules not only because of its high reactivities at low temperatures, but also because further cooling below 1 mK is plausible via sympathetic cooling with ultracold atoms. The demonstrated trapping capability of methyl radicals opens up various possibilities for realizing ultracold ensembles of molecules towards Bose-Einstein condensation of polyatomic molecules and investigations of reactions governed by quantum statistics.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2013

Absolute density measurement of SD radicals in a supersonic jet at the quantum-noise limit

The absolute density of SD radicals in a supersonic jet has been measured down to $(1.1\pm0.1)\times10^5$ cm$^{-3}$ in a modestly specified apparatus that uses a cross-correlated combination of cavity ring-down and laser-induced fluorescence detection. Such a density corresponds to $215\pm21$ molecules in the probe volume at any given time. The minimum detectable absorption coefficient was quantum-noise-limited and measured to be $(7.9\pm0.6)\times10^{-11}$ cm$^{-1}$, in 200 s of acquisition time, corresponding to a noise-equivalent absorption sensitivity for the apparatus of $(1.6\pm0.1)\times10^{-9}$ cm$^{-1}$ Hz$^{-1/2}$.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2010

Alternating Gradient Focusing and Deceleration of Polar Molecules

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.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2010

Photostop: Production of zero-velocity molecules by photodissociation in a molecular beam

We have demonstrated a new, accessible and economical technique, dubbed photostop, for producing high densities of trappable molecules. Direct measurements are presented of NO molecules produced with a narrow velocity distribution centered at zero in the laboratory frame. NO2, initially cooled in a pulsed molecular beam, is photodissociated such that the recoil velocity of the NO photofragments cancels out the velocity of the beam. NO(X^2Pi_3/2, v=0, J=1.5) molecules are observed up to 10 mircoseconds after the dissociation event in the probe volume at an estimated density of 1E7 cm-3 per quantum state and at a translational temperature of 1.6 K. Through the choice of suitable precursors, photostop has the potential to extend the list atoms and molecules that can be slowed or trapped. It should be possible to accumulate density in a trap through consecutive loading of multiple pulses.

physics.chem-ph↗