Achieving precise control over an array of ultracold molecules would provide a unique tool-set for carrying out quantum simulations and quantum computations, as a result of the molecules' rich internal structure. To realise this aim, the molecules have to be cooled and trapped. This is much more difficult for molecules than for atoms due to their complex internal structure. This thesis presents preliminary work towards realising a versatile, permanent magnet trap for buffer gas cooled molecules. Atoms are used throughout to test the feasibility of the trap, as they are easier to produce and detect. Two novel methods for trapping buffer gas cooled atoms in a permanent magnet trap are investigated. The first of these involves trapping the atoms directly from a cryogenic buffer gas cooled ablation plume. Dy atoms, with a magnetic moment of 10μB, are trapped with a lifetime of 800 ± 30 μs, thought to be limited by collisions with a high density of background buffer gas atoms remaining in the trap region. Information gained from the direct trapping experiments motivated the design of a second trapping set-up. Here, a beam of Dy atoms is first extracted from a cryogenic buffer gas source, and when this beam reaches the trapping region, a fraction of the atoms are stopped through collisions with cold helium gas present in the trapping region. This second method reduces the density of buffer gas required in the trap region. The trap lifetime achieved in this arrangement of 810 ± 40 μs is no longer than in the direct trapping experiments, but this arrangement is much more stable and repeatable. The lifetime here is also thought to be limited by collisions with background buffer gas atoms.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:666505 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Nohlmans, Didier |
| Contributors | Tarbutt, Mike; Hinds, Edward |
| Publisher | Imperial College London |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/26283 |
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