Prospects for Doppler cooling of three-electronic-level molecules

Abstract

Analogous to the extension of laser cooling techniques from two-level to three-level atoms, Doppler cooling of molecules with an intermediate electronic state is considered. In particular, we use a rate-equation approach to simulate cooling of SiO+, in which population buildup in the intermediate state is prevented by its short lifetime. We determine that Doppler cooling of SiO+ can be accomplished without optically repumping from the intermediate state, at the cost of causing undesirable parity flips and rotational diffusion. Since the necessary repumping would require a large number of continuous-wave lasers, optical pulse shaping of a femtosecond laser is proposed as an attractive alternative. Other candidate three-electron-level molecules are also discussed.

7 pages, 7 figures

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• A High Phase-Space-Density Gas of Polar Molecules
• Laser cooling of a diatomic molecule
• Optical pumping and vibrational cooling of molecules
• Precision Test of Mass Ratio Variations with Lattice-Confined Ultracold Molecules
• Enhanced sensitivity to variation of the fine structure constant and m_p/m_e in diatomic molecules
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• Lasercooled RaF as a promising candidate to measure molecular parity violation
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• Enhanced sensitivity to variation of $m_e/m_p$ in molecular spectra
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• State-specific detection of trapped HfF${}^{+}$ by photodissociation
• Rotational State Analysis of AlH+ by Two-Photon Dissociation
• Quantum-defect theory of resonant charge exchange
• Optical pulse-shaping for internal cooling of molecules
• Electronic spectroscopy of a cold SiO${}^{+}$ sample: Implications for optical pumping
• Optical Pumping of TeH+: Implications for the Search for Varying mp/me
• Precisely Spun Super Rotors
• IP determination and 1+1 REMPI spectrum of SiO at 210-220 nm with implications for SiO${}^{+}$ ion trap loading
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• Electroweak Nuclear Properties from Single Molecular Ions in a Penning Trap
• High-resolution laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy of ${}^{28}$Si${}^{16}$O${}^{+}$ and ${}^{29}$Si${}^{16}$O${}^{+}$ in a cryogenic buffer-gas cell
• Features of Molecular Structure Beneficial for Optical Pumping