Efficient cooling to less than 10 nK enabled allowed the observation of the first BEC of polar ground state molecules
Microwave shielding induces repulsive interactions and allows evaporative cooling
May 2019
Efficient cooling to less than 10 nK enabled allowed the observation of the first BEC of polar ground state molecules
The Will Lab investigates quantum systems of ultracold atoms and molecules. We cool atoms and molecules to ultracold temperatures close to above absolute zero - reaching the coldest temperatures allowed by nature. At these temperatures, the behavior of particles is 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.
We work towards single atom and single molecule and create novel many-body quantum systems, and perform quantum simulations of strongly interacting matter. 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.
Recent News
July 9, 2024
Three-body recombination of microwave-shielded molecules
In this work, we study three-body collisions in a gas of ultracold dipolar molecules. Our data shows that three-body recombination can explain performance limits of microwave-shielding, which have so far been unexplained. We compare experimental data of three-body loss rates with the results of a classical trajectory model for recombination and find excellent agreement. The insights are efficient cooling of dipolar molecules and point to rich three-body physics.
June 3, 2024
Bose-Einstein condensate of polar molecules out in Nature!
Link to manuscript Nature (2024)
Link to Columbia Press Release
Link to Nature News
Link to Physics Today
Link to Nature Podcast
Link to Scientific Amerian
Link to Popular Mechanics
Link to NSF News
Link to Nature News and Views
June 28, 2024
Magic trapping of microwave-shielded molecules
Recent work has shown that microwave dressing can massively enhance the collisional lifetime and enable Bose-Einstein condensation of molecules. In this work, we analyze the impact of microwave dressing on the single molecule level. We develop dressed-state spectroscopy as a new spectroscopic method and find that a magic rotational transition can be engineered in NaCs molecules by controlling their optical polarizability with microwave fields. All details in our preprint:
April 30, 2024
Atoms trapped in metasurface tweezer arrays
In collaboration with the Nanfang Yu Lab at Columbia, we have developed a technique to trap atoms in optical tweezer arrays, generated via holographic metasurfaces. The picture shows a flouresence image of Sr atoms, cooled and trapped in a metasurface tweezer array with a mean tweezer spacing of 3 um. The technique allows creation of atom arrays with arbitrary geometry and high laser power. Congrats to the entire TweeSr and Yu Lab Team on this wonderful achievement!
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