Assembly of individual molecules in arrays of optical tweezers

该项目涉及的基础研究是将单个激光冷却原子捕获在被称为光镊的紧密聚焦激光束中。我们的研究重点是利用这种方法将两种不同的原子物种捕获在不同的陷阱中，将陷阱组合成一个镊子，然后将原子对结合成一个超冷分子，从而组装单个分子。分子以其丰富的振动和旋转的内部结构为物理和化学的基础研究提供了新的机会。可能性包括对标准模型之外的物理进行光谱搜索，研究与我们对化学反应的理解相关的碰撞，以及利用分子之间的远程相互作用模拟量子磁性。通过组装单个分子实现的控制将加强这些类型的研究。在将这些技术扩展到单个分子的小阵列之前，申请人将研究和开发使用应用磁场和光学场组装分子所需的方法。一个关键的挑战将是将生产单个分子的方法扩大到均匀填充的二维阵列。将探讨提高装载概率和重新布置已占用陷阱的方案。

The project concerns fundamental research into the trapping of individual laser-cooled atoms in tightly focussed laser beams known as optical tweezers. Our research is focussed on using the approach to assemble individual molecules by trapping two different atomic species in separate traps, combining the traps into a single tweezer and then associating the atomic pair into an ultracold molecule. Molecules offer new opportunities for fundamental studies in physics and chemistry owing to their rich internal structure of vibration and rotation. Possibilities include spectroscopic searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, studies of collisions relevant to our understanding of chemical reactions and the simulation of quantum magnetism using long-range interactions between the molecules. The control achieved by assembling individual molecules will enhance these types of studies. The applicant will study and develop the methods needed to assemble molecules using applied magnetic and optical fields, before extending these techniques to small arrays of individual molecules. A key challenge will be scaling up the approach from the production of a single molecule to uniformly filled 2D arrays. Protocols for enhancing the loading probability and rearranging occupied traps will be explored.