Collisions of polar bosonic NaK molecules

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Silke Ospelkaus, since 9/2020
• Subject Area: Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: from 2016 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 258183570

Complementary to project E4 of the Research Unit, the ultimate long-run goal of this project is the preparation of a large quantum degenerate gas of polar \textbf{bosonic} ground state $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K molecules interacting via strong long-range and anisotropic interactions to study intriguing many-body phenomena arising from the dipolar interaction. Towards this goal, we will investigate few-body collisional processes between polar bosonic molecules prepared in various hyperfine, rotational and vibrational states to elucidate molecular loss mechanisms. We will investigate and implement mechanisms for the control of molecular collisions such as restricted geometries and AC and DC dressing of the molecular rotational structure to finally stabilize molecular ensembles. In the long run, we aim at the investigation of the preparation and dynamics of interacting spin systems of polar molecules as realized by rotational degrees of freedom and the resonant exchange interaction.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2247: From few to many-body physics with dipolar quantum gases
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Dr. Alessandro Zenesini, Ph.D., until 9/2020