Ultracold Triatomic Molecules : Collisions & Cooling

原子和分子是自然界的基本组成部分，它们的行为受到量子力学中给出的物质微观理论的控制。 物理学的基本目标之一是研究原子和分子之间的相互作用，以便更深刻地理解计算机、互联网和人体等复杂的物理系统。 另一个目标是应用量子力学来发明电子和医学所需的新物质。 实现这些目标的进展将受益于对量子物理学的更详细的研究。该项目将开发冷却、捕获和操纵分子的新方法，以研究它们的量子行为。 特别是，该项目将使人们能够在极低温度下对气体中的三原子分子进行新的探索。低温很重要，因为当它们被冷却时，原子和分子的量子性质会大大放大，从而使量子现象受到更仔细的检查。该项目还将培训学生原子和分子物理研究方法，这将有助于他们为参与高科技劳动力做好准备。技术方法是使用激光冷却原子和分子，然后将它们固定在陷阱中观察它们如何相互作用。该陷阱不是由硬壁制成的，而是依赖于创建光学或磁性瓶子。这些分子一定是冷的，因为这些陷阱相对较弱；太热的分子就会沸腾。研究人员此前发明了一种激光冷却分子的方法，以降低足够的温度以进行捕获。 （冷却原子已经完成。）冷原子和分子将悬浮在近乎完美的真空中，永远不会接触固体物质壁。研究人员将详细研究原子和分子相互作用时会发生什么，这是创建更复杂原子系统的第一个最基本的步骤。这项工作的目标是观察日益复杂的原子分子碰撞中的能量交换和其他现象，首先使用三原子分子作为基本测试平台。这将增进对自然的理解，并帮助科学设计新的物理系统和新的量子工具。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Atoms and molecules are the basic building blocks of nature, and their behavior is governed by the microscopic theory of matter given in quantum mechanics. One of the basic aims in physics is to investigate interactions between atoms and molecules in order to more profoundly understand complex physical systems such as computers, the internet, and the human body. Another aim is to apply quantum mechanics to invent new substances that are needed for electronics and medicine. Progress towards these aims will benefit from more detailed studies of quantum physics. This project will develop new methods to cool, trap, and manipulate molecules in order to study their quantum behavior. In particular, this project will enable new explorations with triatomic molecules in a gas at very low temperature. Low temperature is important because when they are cooled, the quantum nature of atoms and molecules is greatly amplified, thus exposing quantum phenomena to more careful examination. This project will also train students in atomic and molecular physics research methods which will help prepare them to participate in the high tech work force.The technical approach is to cool atoms and molecules using lasers and then hold them in a trap to watch how they interact. The trap is not one made of hard walls, but rather relies on creating an optical or magnetic bottle. The molecules must be cold because these traps are relatively weak; molecules that are too hot will just boil out. The researchers previously invented a way of laser cooling molecules to low enough temperatures for trapping. (Cooling atoms had already been accomplished.) The cold atoms and molecules will be suspended in an otherwise nearly perfect vacuum, never touching a solid matter wall. The researchers will study in detail what happens when atoms and molecules interact, the first most basic step in the creation of more complex atomic systems. The goal of the work is to observe the exchange of energy and other phenomena in increasingly complex atom-molecule collisions, starting using triatomic molecules as a fundamental testbed. This will add to the understanding of nature and help science to design new physical systems and new quantum tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.