Microwave shielding induces repulsive interactions and allows evaporative cooling
Check out our latest paper on STIRAP of NaCs
May 2019
Microwave shielding induces repulsive interactions and allows evaporative cooling
The Will Lab investigates quantum systems of ultracold atoms and molecules. We cool atoms and molecules to ultracold temperatures just a sliver above absolute zero - reaching the coldest temperatures allowed by nature. Close to absolute zero temperature, the behavior of particles is ultimately determined by the laws of quantum mechanics. Using the precision tools of atomic physics, we have full control over the quantum state of each particle and the interactions between them.
With ultracold atoms and molecules we create novel many-body quantum systems, perform quantum simulations of strongly interacting matter, and work towards single atom and single molecule control. Our research program focusses on fundamental questions in many-body quantum physics, quantum simulation, and quantum optics, and contributes to the development of modern quantum technologies. For more details go to Research.
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Recent News
April 3, 2023
Paper on holographic optical tweezer arrays is out
In this work, we demonstrate that holographic metasurfaces can generate versatile optical tweezer arrays. We demonstrate exotic lattice geometries in 1D, 2D, and 3D, including necklace, triangular, Kagome, honeycomb, twisted bilayer. We are excited to apply this for the generation of atomic tweezer arrays. In collaboration with our Columbia colleagues Nanfang Yu and Ana Asenjo-Garcia, and thanks to Xiaoyan Huang and Weijun Yuan for leading this effort! Link: Prog. Quantum Electron. 100470 (2023)
February 23, 2023
New preprint on high-efficiency STIRAP to the NaCs ground state
New preprint on NaCs excited state spectroscopy and efficient pathways for stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) into the rovibrational ground state of dipolar NaCs molecules. We demonstrate STIRAP efficiency of 88%. This will be helpful for the creation of ultracold high density samples of NaCs and help with high fidelity detection of NaCs in optical lattices and optical tweezers. Link: arXiv:2302.12293
March 16, 2023
Paper on ultracold NaCs molecules out in PRL
Our paper on the creation of ultracold NaCs ground state molecules just appeared in Physical Review Letters. Among other things, we show strong microwave coupling for rotational states (~45 MHz Rabi frequency). Congrats to Ian and the entire team on the amazing work! Link: Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 113003 (2023)
February 1, 2023
Nature News & Views on Molecular Resonances
In this week's Nature magazine Tanya Zelevinsky and Sebastian discuss newly discovered resonance phenomena in ultracold molecular gases and give an outlook on their impact on future research in quantum chemistry and quantum simulation with molecules. Link: Nature, 614, 35-36 (2023)
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