AMO Physics in Parahydrogen Matrices

气相中的原子和分子目前用于许多应用：世界上最精确的时钟，传感器和原型量子计算机。这些应用中的许多应用将大大受益于所使用的原子和分子的更高数量和密度。这可以通过将感兴趣的原子或分子植入固体内来实现。不幸的是，大多数固体改变了注入原子或分子的性质，以至于它们在实验上不再有用。这一规则的一个有希望的例外是固体仲氢：在纯化的核自旋状态下制备的氢分子的低温晶体。这种“量子固体”保留了注入原子和分子的许多重要性质。该项目将研究与原子物理学应用相关的仲氢性质，并将原子和分子物理学的强大工具与只能在固相中实现的高数量和密度相结合。这一实验物理研究计划将测量注入固体仲氢的原子的光泵浦特性，并测量自旋弛豫和相干时间。这些是磁力测量应用的关键参数。将进行原子掺杂剂和晶体参数的调查，以找到有利的条件，并帮助理解潜在的物理。将研究植入的极性分子的行为，特别是使用外部场来定向分子的能力。这不仅对理解分子与其仲氢主体的相互作用感兴趣，而且也是在固相中使用重极性分子寻找电偶极矩的建议的关键的第一步。

Atoms and molecules in the gas phase are currently used in many applications: the world's most accurate clocks, sensors, and prototype quantum computers. Many of these applications would greatly benefit from higher numbers and densities of the atoms and molecules used. This can be achieved by implanting the atoms or molecules of interest within a solid. Unfortunately, most solids alter the properties of implanted atoms or molecules to such an extent that they are no longer experimentally useful. One promising exception to this rule is solid parahydrogen: a cryogenic crystal of hydrogen molecules prepared in a purified nuclear spin state. This "quantum solid" preserves many of the important properties of implanted atoms and molecules. This project will investigate the properties of parahydrogen relevant for atomic physics applications, and combine the powerful tools of atomic and molecular physics with the high numbers and densities that can only be achieved in the solid phase. This has the potential to advance applications such as magnetometry, molecular structure imaging, and fundamental physics tests.This experimental physics research program will measure the optical pumping properties of atoms implanted in solid parahydrogen, and measure spin relaxation and coherence times. These are crucial parameters for magnetometry applications. A survey of atomic dopants and crystal parameters will be conducted to find favorable conditions and help to understand the underlying physics. The behavior of implanted polar molecules, specifically the ability to use external fields to orient the molecules, will be studied. This is not only of interest for understanding the interaction of molecules with their parahydrogen host, but also a crucial first step for proposals to search for an electric dipole moment using heavy polar molecules in the solid phase.