Spectroscopy and dynamics of cold and ultracold molecules

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Cold molecule research has grown rapidly in the last twenty years, inspired by the breakthroughs in the field of ultra-cold atoms. Since pronounced quantum effects emerge from thermal averages at low temperatures, cold molecules are expected to behave quite differently from those at high temperatures. Molecules have many special features that atoms do not have, i.e. rotational and vibrational motions, various symmetries including chirality, and richer chemical reactivities. Ensembles of cold molecules are therefore a treasure chest of new frontiers in both chemistry and physics, completely unavailable by any other means. Although it is still challenging to create molecules at a temperature below 1 K, recent progress on making cold molecules, including our latest groundbreaking contributions to the trapping of cold free radicals, allow us to advance cold and ultra-cold molecule research to challenge outstanding scientific questions as well as apply them to real-world applications. Based on our unique and original techniques along with the innovative ideas we have established in the last several years, we will continue our cutting-edge research on cold molecules, aiming to establish a new research field in chemistry. My research in the next five years will consist of five topics: 1) Development of Techniques to Create Ultra-cold Molecules below 1 mK, 2) Detailed Study of Cold Collisions and Reactions, 3) Ultra-high Resolution Spectroscopy towards the Test of Fundamental Symmetries, 4) Control and Manipulation of Molecules by Laser Fields, 5) Spectroscopy of Molecules in Quantum Condensed Matter. Through these studies, new phenomena intrinsic to cold molecules will be investigated, such as quantum tunneling and the wave nature of molecules. Experiments on cold collisions and reactions would take us into a strange new world in chemistry, namely ultra-cold chemistry, which may be relevant to interstellar and atmospheric chemistry. Coherent control such as the enantiomeric purification of racemic mixtures by laser fields is an important application of cold molecules to be tackled, which would make a tremendous impact in analytical and pharmaceutical science. In the long term, we will challenge the creation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate and a molecular superfluid, new phases of the molecular matter wave that have never been observed. Also, we will challenge the detection of small energy differences in enantiomers of chiral molecules, which would contribute to the understanding of the origin of life. If these goals are realized, it will provide a significant impact in the broader community. Studies of cold molecules open unlimited possibilities, which offers a completely new field of research in chemistry.