Development of an optical frequency comb referenced laser system for coherent manipulation and precision spectroscopy of ultra-cold molecules

由于近年来在超冷分子和光学计量领域的进展，分子内部（即旋转和振动）量子态的精确相干操作已经可以用于实验。这些新技术将提供将原子干涉测量的理论概念和实验技术转移到一个新的领域的手段，即分子内态量子干涉测量。由于原子干涉测量法已经被证明是当今最强大的计量工具，分子干涉测量法将对精密分子光谱学、分子QED测试以及可能的狭义相对论和广义相对论测试等领域产生重大影响。本研究项目的目标是开发一种复杂的激光系统，用于超冷分子的相干操作和精确光谱，特别是HD+分子离子。它结合了光学计量的最新发展，即fs-optical频率梳，与先进的二极管激光概念。这些技术的发展不仅与分子干涉测量有关，而且也引起了原子和分子精密光谱学的普遍关注。

Due to the recent progress in the fields of ultra-cold molecules and optical metrology the precise coherent manipulation of molecular internal, i.e. rotational and vibrational, quantum states has come into reach for experiments. The new technologies will provide the means to transfer theoretical concepts and experimental techniques from atom interferometry to a new field, namely molecular internal state quantum interferometry. As atom interferometry has already proven to be the most powerful metrology tool nowadays, molecular interferometry will have strong impact on fields like precision molecular spectroscopy, test of molecular QED, and possibly on tests of Special and General Relativity.The goal of this research project is to develop a complex laser system for coherent manipulation and precision spectroscopy of ultra-cold molecules, in particular of the HD+ molecular ion. It combines latest developments in optical metrology, i.e. fs-optical frequency combs, with advanced diode laser concepts. The development of these technologies is not only relevant for molecular interferometry but is also of general interest for atomic and molecular precision spectroscopy.