Effects of an Oscillating Electric Field on and Dipole Moment Measurement of a Single Molecular Ion.

We characterize and model the Stark effect due to the radio-frequency (rf) electric field experienced by a molecular ion in an rf Paul trap, a leading systematic in the uncertainty of the field-free rotational transition. The ion is deliberately displaced to sample different known rf electric fields and measure the resultant shifts in transition frequencies. With this method, we determine the permanent electric dipole moment of CaH^{+}, and find close agreement with theory.

3D Magneto-Optical Trap of Yttrium Monoxide.

We report three-dimensional trapping of an oxide molecule (YO), using a radio-frequency magneto-optical trap (MOT). The total number of molecules trapped is ∼1.5×10^{4}, with a temperature of 4.

Radio Frequency Magneto-Optical Trapping of CaF with High Density.

We demonstrate significantly improved magneto-optical trapping of molecules using a very slow cryogenic beam source and either rf modulated or dc magnetic fields. The rf magneto-optical trap (MOT) confines 1.0(3)×10^{5} CaF molecules at a density of 7(3)×10^{6}  cm^{-3}, which is an order of magnitude greater than previous molecular MOTs.

Rotational State Microwave Mixing for Laser Cooling of Complex Diatomic Molecules.

We demonstrate the mixing of rotational states in the ground electronic state using microwave radiation to enhance optical cycling in the molecule yttrium (II) monoxide (YO). This mixing technique is used in conjunction with a frequency modulated and chirped continuous wave laser to slow longitudinally a cryogenic buffer-gas beam of YO. We generate a flux of YO below 10 m/s, directly loadable into a three-dimensional magneto-optical trap.

2D Magneto-optical trapping of diatomic molecules.

We demonstrate one- and two-dimensional transverse laser cooling and magneto-optical trapping of the polar molecule yttrium (II) oxide (YO). In a 1D magneto-optical trap (MOT), we characterize the magneto-optical trapping force and decrease the transverse temperature by an order of magnitude, from 25 to 2 mK, limited by interaction time. In a 2D MOT, we enhance the intensity of the YO beam and reduce the transverse temperature in both transverse directions.