Understanding the mechanism of ultracold molecular loss in optical traps

Investigate and fully elucidate the mechanisms responsible for loss in ultracold molecular collisions in optical traps for both reactive and non-reactive species, specifically determining the role of transient collision complexes and trap-photon absorption in producing observed losses and quantifying their dynamics.

Background

The review notes that experiments in optical traps observe losses for both reactive and ostensibly non-reactive molecules. These losses have been attributed to the formation of long-lived collision complexes that can absorb trapping light, but a complete understanding remains lacking. Clarifying this mechanism is essential for achieving stable, quantum-degenerate molecular gases and for designing effective shielding and trapping protocols.

Resolving this uncertainty will impact strategies for evaporative cooling, shielding (dc or microwave), and the broader deployment of molecules for quantum simulation and computation, where long lifetimes and controlled interactions are crucial.

References

Although not fully understood, these losses are attributed to the transient formation of a collision complex which subsequently absorbs photons from the optical trap leading to the observed loss.

— Quantum Computation and Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Molecules (2401.05086 - Cornish et al., 10 Jan 2024) in Outlook and new directions — Controlling collisions and quantum degeneracy