RUI: Heteronuclear Alkaline/Alkaline-Earth Molecules

与极冷的原子和分子相比，即使是寒冷的外太空也是热的。通过使用红失谐、圆偏振激光和磁场的组合——磁光阱（MOT）——室温原子可以被冷却到刚好高于绝对零度（~100微k），并被困在直径几毫米的体积中。这些超冷气体可以精确地研究原子能水平，从而更深入地了解量子力学，这是一种描述微观世界的理论。在威拉米特大学（Willamette University）克莱纳特博士的实验室里，铷和钙的超冷气体被困在一起，并结合形成分子二聚体RbCa，这是一种以前从未形成或研究过的分子。这些新分子由于其不消失的电偶极矩和磁偶极矩而成为有吸引力的研究系统。通过精心剪裁分子的内部量子态，利用与外部电场和磁场相互作用的永久偶极矩，这些分子在量子信息处理、基本对称性研究和高精度光谱学中得到了应用。该项目旨在培养考虑从事研究工作的本科生，丰富物理系和威拉米特大学整体的研究环境，进一步加强校园教学与科研的融合。具体来说，Kleinert在她的项目的各个方面都包括本科生研究人员，从最初的实验组装、测试、数据收集和分析，到通过出版物和会议演讲传播。这种接触最先进的研究项目的各个方面，以及密切的教师指导和同伴教学，为学生做好准备，并激励他们继续接受高等教育。除了在校园工作，Kleinert还积极参与外展项目，以培养幼儿和感兴趣的成年人的科学好奇心。美国国家科学基金会的奖项允许她通过与太平洋西北路易斯斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟的合作，将来自代表性不足群体的学生纳入她的研究项目，并邀请专家到校园进行研究讲座，并担任导师和榜样。

Even the cold of outer space is hot in comparison to ultracold atoms and molecules. By using a combination of red-detuned, circularly polarized laser light and magnetic fields - the magneto-optical trap (MOT) - room-temperature atoms can be cooled to just above absolute zero (~100 microK) and trapped in a volume a few millimeter in diameter. These ultracold gases allow precision studies of atomic energy levels, leading to deeper insight into quantum mechanics, the theory that describes the world of the very small. In Dr. Kleinert's lab at Willamette University, ultracold gases of rubidium and calcium are trapped together and combined to form molecular dimers, RbCa, a molecule that has never before been formed or studied. These novel molecules are attractive systems to study due to their non-vanishing electric and magnetic dipole moments. By carefully tailoring the internal quantum state of the molecules and utilizing the permanent dipole moments through interactions with external electric and magnetic fields, these molecules find applications in quantum information processing, studies of fundamental symmetries and high-precision spectroscopy. The project is used to train undergraduates considering careers in research, to enrich the research environment of the physics department and Willamette University as a whole, and to further enhance integration of teaching and research on campus. Specifically, Kleinert is including undergraduate researchers in all aspects of her project, from initial experimental assembly, testing, data collection, and analysis to dissemination through publications and conference presentations. This exposure to all aspects of a state-of-the art research project together with close faculty mentoring and peer-teaching prepares students well and inspires them to continue higher education. In addition to work on campus, Kleinert also actively participates in outreach programs to foster scientific curiosity in young children and interested adults alike. The NSF award allows her to include students from under-represented groups in her research project through collaboration with the Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, and to invite experts to campus to give research talks and to act as mentors and role models.