An ultracold molecular beam for testing fundamental physics

We use two-dimensional transverse laser cooling to produce an ultracold beam of YbF molecules. Through experiments and numerical simulations, we study how the cooling is influenced by the polarization configuration, laser intensity, laser detuning and applied magnetic field. The ultracold part of the beam contains more than 2 x 10(5) molecules per shot and has a temperature below 200 mu K, and the cooling yields a 300-fold increase in the brightness of the beam. The method can improve the precision of experiments that use molecules to test fundamental physics. In particular, the beam is suitable for measuring the electron electric dipole moment with a statistical precision better than 10(-30) e cm.

Automated summary

Two-dimensional transverse laser cooling is utilized to create an ultracold YbF molecule beam, significantly increasing brightness and allowing for precise experiments with a statistical precision better than 10(-30) e cm, particularly for measuring the electron electric dipole moment.