SGER: Trapping of Atomic Hydrogen Isotopes

超冷原子和分子及其相互作用的研究是物理学研究中最活跃的领域之一。然而，这些研究一直受到用于冷却原子和分子的技术的限制。这个SGER项目将开发一种使用快速切换脉冲磁场来减缓顺磁原子和分子的速度的新方法。这个项目的具体目标是减缓和阻止氢原子束和重原子束，并将它们困在一个磁性四极陷阱中。实验的初步优化将用更容易探测到的亚稳态霓虹灯来完成。这项工作的更广泛的影响是开发出一种能够捕获任何顺磁原子或分子的磁慢化器。该研究项目将直接资助两名研究生。更多的本科生将参与这个项目。

The study of ultracold atoms and molecules, and their interactions is one of the most active areas of physics research. However, these studies have been limited by the techniques used to cool the atoms and molecules. This SGER project will develop a new method for slowing paramagnetic atoms and molecules using rapidly switched pulsed magnetic fields. The specific goal of this project is to slow and stop beams of atomic hydrogen and deuterium ad to trap them in a magnetic quadrupole trap. Initial optimization of the experiment will be done with metastable neon, which is easier to detect. The broader impact of this work is the development of a magnetic slower that will enable trapping of any paramagnetic atom or molecule. The research project will directly support two graduate students. Additional undergraduate students will work on the project.