Cold nitric oxide molecules from a Stark guide.

Abstract

One possible technique is the use of a modified straight Stark guide to filter the slow moving molecules from a thermal source. Here I present such a technique and the design of the necessary apparatus. Furthermore, I present experimental results for creating a molecular source of nitric oxide (NO) whose temperature is controlled. Results showing the effects of the guide on the lowest ro-vibrational states of NO and a new technique for measuring the speed distribution of a cold molecular sample are also discussed. Finally, the use of the guide to produce cold NO molecules at a temperature of 7 +/- 2 K is described.

The success of laser cooling and trapping led to an explosion of new physics and had a major impact on atomic physics. However, the requirement of particles with simple internal structure has limited its use to a few atomic species. Currently, atomic and molecular physicists are looking to expand the scope of cold and ultracold physics by developing new techniques that will produce cold samples of other atoms and molecules.