Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
University of British Columbia
$150,000.00
Laboratory for research on cold molecular processes with ultrashort laser pulses
FY 2009-10
Summary
The requested infrastructure represents an essential part of a NEW LABORATORY at the University of British Columbia aimed at studying ultra-cold molecules (temperatures below 1 Kelvin) and controlling cold molecular dynamics with ultra-short pulses (pulse length below 100 femtosecond). At low temperatures, molecular thermal motion is significantly suppressed and stops dominating the energy landscape of many fundamental molecular processes, i.e. molecular collisions and chemical reactions. Developing new approaches to controlling and studying cold molecular dynamics with ultrafast lasers is the main goal of this program.
In the proposed experimental facility, molecular motion will be harnessed by magnetic deceleration of a supersonic molecular beam. We will exploit recently emerged technology of magnetic deceleration, which, unlike laser cooling of alkali atoms, allows slowing any paramagnetic molecule down to sub-Kelvin kinetic energy. We will "heat up" cold molecules in a very special way with an ultrafast laser radiation. Unlike chaotic thermal heating, ultrashort laser pulses are capable of preparing well-defined coherent superpositions of molecular states, known as quantum wavepackets. Utilizing the coherence of an ultra-short laser pulse over an extremely broad range of frequencies, and the technique of femtosecond pulse shaping, we will study the effects of wavepacket dynamics on cold molecular processes, and the ability to control them.
The combination of multi-species cooling capability, extending beyond bi-alkalis, with ultrafast quantum state preparation is quite unique, and will position this new laboratory at the forefront of molecular physics in Canada and worldwide. No other laboratory in Canada is currently capable of producing high flux of cold molecules, and only a handful of such facilities exist in the world. Timely funding of this proposal is therefore absolutely crucial for securing Canadian leadership in this novel and innovative experimental field.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
389603-2010
Name nom
Milner, Valery
Department département
Physics and Astronomy
Organization id
2
Institution établissement
University of British Columbia
Province en
British Columbia
Province fr
Colombie-Britannique
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2010
Award amount
150000
Program id
EQPEQ
Program nane en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1505
Committee name en
Physics
Committee name fr
Physique
Area of application code
1202
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Physical sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences physiques
Research subject code
3101
Research subject group en
Physics
Research subject group fr
Physique
Research subject en
Atomic and molecular studies
Research subject fr
Études atomiques et moléculaires
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Laboratory for research on cold molecular processes with ultrashort laser pulses
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The requested infrastructure represents an essential part of a NEW LABORATORY at the University of British Columbia aimed at studying ultra-cold molecules (temperatures below 1 Kelvin) and controlling cold molecular dynamics with ultra-short pulses (pulse length below 100 femtosecond). At low temperatures, molecular thermal motion is significantly suppressed and stops dominating the energy landscape of many fundamental molecular processes, i.e. molecular collisions and chemical reactions. Developing new approaches to controlling and studying cold molecular dynamics with ultrafast lasers is the main goal of this program.
In the proposed experimental facility, molecular motion will be harnessed by magnetic deceleration of a supersonic molecular beam. We will exploit recently emerged technology of magnetic deceleration, which, unlike laser cooling of alkali atoms, allows slowing any paramagnetic molecule down to sub-Kelvin kinetic energy. We will "heat up" cold molecules in a very special way with an ultrafast laser radiation. Unlike chaotic thermal heating, ultrashort laser pulses are capable of preparing well-defined coherent superpositions of molecular states, known as quantum wavepackets. Utilizing the coherence of an ultra-short laser pulse over an extremely broad range of frequencies, and the technique of femtosecond pulse shaping, we will study the effects of wavepacket dynamics on cold molecular processes, and the ability to control them.
The combination of multi-species cooling capability, extending beyond bi-alkalis, with ultrafast quantum state preparation is quite unique, and will position this new laboratory at the forefront of molecular physics in Canada and worldwide. No other laboratory in Canada is currently capable of producing high flux of cold molecules, and only a handful of such facilities exist in the world. Timely funding of this proposal is therefore absolutely crucial for securing Canadian leadership in this novel and innovative experimental field.
