講演会のお知らせ （3/11： Prof. John M. Doyle (ハーバード大学))

講演題目：Ultracold and Cold Molecules for Quantum Science and Particle Physics
講師： Prof. John M. Doyle (ハーバード大学))
日時：2019年3月11日（月）15:30～
場所：コラボレーション棟３階コラボレーション室
要旨：
　Molecules are deceptively simple. Bonding of two atoms or more leads to non-trivial additional motional degrees of freedom and new associated quantum numbers. This, plus the larger density of states, realizes a quantum object whose complexity leads to new chemistry and physics research opportunities and concomitantly presents new challenges in molecular control. The science opportunities include the development of accurate and precise manipulation of chemical reactions and collisions in a qualitatively more complex species. But the reach of molecules also includes dramatically improved, novel approaches to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, and enhanced platforms for quantum computing using molecular tweezer arrays. All of these research frontiers, in particular with polyatomic molecules - triatomics and their symmetric and asymmetric top brethren - either require or are greatly enhanced by chilling them to ultracold temperatures where they can be prepared in exquisitely well-defined internal and external motional states.

The recent experimental advances in direct laser cooling of diatomic molecules and triatomic molecules clearly indicates that full extension of atomic laser tools - the creation of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) plus sub-Doppler cooling - to polyatomic species should be possible. Recently in our laboratory we achieved a magneto-optical trap of diatomic molecules with CaF and loading of these molecules into optical tweezers. We also accomplished the first laser cooling a polyatomic molecule, using SrOH. In addition, in 2016 we proposed the laser cooling of more complex polyatomic molecules using the methods we have now demonstrated. In particular, symmetric top molecules like CaOCH3 (and, possibly, related asymmetric top molecules) look extremely promising for direct laser cooling to microKelvin temperatures. Also discussed in this talk is application of cold molecule research to detection of small molecule biomarkers.

連絡先：異分野基礎科学研究所・量子宇宙研究コア　吉村浩司（内線8499）