High Compression Blue-Detuned Magneto-Optical Trap of Polyatomic Molecules

Abstract

We demonstrate a blue-detuned magneto-optical trap (MOT) of a polyatomic molecule, calcium monohydroxide (CaOH). We identify a novel MOT frequency configuration that produces high spatial compression of the molecular cloud. This high compression MOT achieves a cloud radius of $59(5)\mu \text{m}$ and a peak density of $8(2)\times 10^8{\text{cm}}^{-3}$, the highest reported density for a molecular MOT to date. We compare our experimental studies of blue-detuned MOTs for CaOH and compare with Monte-Carlo simulations, finding good agreement.