Magnetic trapping and coherent control of laser-cooled molecules

Abstract

We demonstrate coherent microwave control of the rotational, hyperfine and Zeeman states of ultracold CaF molecules, and the magnetic trapping of these molecules in a single, selectable quantum state. We trap about $5\times 10^3$ molecules for 2 s at a temperature of 65(11) $\mu$K and a density of $1.2\times 10^5$ cm${}^{-3}$. We measure the state-specific loss rate due to collisions with background helium.

6 pages, 4 figures