CAREER:Quantum Polar Molecular Gases from One- and Two-Electron Atoms

该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助。该职业奖项支持一项实验研究计划，该计划旨在生产极性分子气体，目标是研究具有强烈和长程相互作用的量子物质，并对物理学基本理论进行敏感测试。锂(单电子原子，Li)和Yb(双电子原子，Yb)被冷却并限制在一个普通的原子陷阱中，然后通过光场诱导的散射共振连接起来，形成双原子LiYb分子。这些强相互作用的分子被放置在周期光学晶格势中，用于研究凝聚态物理的基本Hubbard模型的扩展，包括粒子间的长程相互作用。捕获的顺磁分子也将被用作电子电偶极矩(EDM)的非常灵敏的探针，其值对基本粒子物理模型具有至关重要的影响。这些实验将有助于开发用于量子计算的捕获的极性分子。在进行研究的同时，正在进行相关的教育和推广。研究生和本科生获得宝贵的研究经验，为他们作为下一代科学家和工程师加入学术界和工业界的工作大军做好准备。本科生讲课和实验室课程正在通过增加计算部分和纳入基于原子和光学物理学现代前沿研究的背景丰富的问题而得到加强。该研究计划通过华盛顿大学与西雅图梅萨(数学、工程、科学成就)计划的合作伙伴关系，包括教育和外展计划。这包括定期讲座、实验室参观和暑期实习，为来自西雅图地区的代表不足和处境不利的高中生提供机会，努力吸引他们参加科学大学项目和职业生涯。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This CAREER award supports an experimental research program to produce polar molecular gases with the goal of investigating quantum matter with strong and long-range interactions, and of performing sensitive tests of fundamental theories of physics. Lithium (one-electron atom, Li) and ytterbium (two-electron atom, Yb) are cooled and confined in a common atom trap and subsequently linked using optical field induced scattering resonances to form diatomic LiYb molecules. These strongly-interacting molecules are placed in periodic optical lattice potentials for studying extensions to the fundamental Hubbard model of condensed matter physics, incorporating inter-particle long-range interactions. The trapped paramagnetic molecules are also to be used as a very sensitive probe for the electron electric dipole moment (EDM), the value of which crucially impacts models of fundamental particle physics. These experiments will contribute to the development of trapped polar molecules for quantum computation.Concurrent with the research component, related education and outreach is being performed. Graduate and undergraduate students gain valuable research experience, preparing them to join the work force in academics and industry as the next generation of scientists and engineers. Undergraduate lecture and laboratory courses are being enhanced through an increased computational component and incorporation of context-rich problems based on modern cutting-edge research in atomic and optical physics. The research program is leveraged to encompass educational and outreach programs through the University of Washington's partnership with the Seattle MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program. This involves periodic lectures, lab tours, and summer internships, for underrepresented and disadvantaged high-school students from the Seattle area, in an effort to attract them to scientific college programs and careers.