Laser-cooling and trapping techniques for molecules promise access to a diverse range of ultracold species for applications such as quantum simulation and improved precision measurements. In this talk, I will present recent progress from two experiments within my group to laser-cool and trap two different species for complementary studies of molecule-molecule interactions. The first, AlCl, has an electronic structure analogous to that of alkaline earth atoms and presents a number of advantages for realizing large, dense samples of laser-cooled molecules. The second, CH, has traditionally been a challenging molecule to produce at high density but offers access to studies of simple controlled organic chemistry that may be compared to calculations by quantum chemists.
Host: Nir Navon (nir.navon@yale.edu)
