Open AccessCollisions between cold molecules in a superconducting magnetic trap
Author(s) -
M. Pitzer,
Yair Segev,
Michael Karpov,
Nitzan Akerman,
Julia Narevicius,
Edvardas Narevicius
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1412/12/122001
Subject(s) - magnetic trap , trap (plumbing) , superconductivity , molecule , physics , inelastic collision , superconducting magnet , atomic physics , magnet , elastic collision , particle (ecology) , collision , magnetic field , condensed matter physics , nuclear physics , electron , quantum mechanics , oceanography , computer security , geology , meteorology , computer science
Synopsis We decelerate and trap molecular oxygen using time-dependent magnetic fields and superconducting magnets. The density-dependent, non-exponential decay in particle number provides a clear proof of molecule-molecule collisions within the trapped ensemble. The spatial distribution of molecules in the trap is found to change over time, allowing to set limits on the ratio between the elastic and inelastic collision cross sections. Our experimental scheme opens up new possibilities for studying quantum effects in chemistry as well as for evaporative cooling of molecules.