Manufacturing a thin wire electrostatic trap (TWIST) for ultracold polar molecules

We present a detailed description on how to build a Thin WIre electroStatic Trap (TWIST) for ultracold polar molecules. It is the first design of an electrostatic trap that can be superimposed directly onto a magneto optical trap (MOT). We can thus continuously produce ultracold polar molecules via photoassociation from a two species MOT and instantaneously trap them in the TWIST without the need for complex transfer schemes. Despite the spatial overlap of the TWIST and the MOT, the two traps can be operated and optimized completely independently due to the complementary nature of the utilized trapping mechanisms.Comment: 5 pages, 8 figures, updated conten

Trapping of ultracold polar molecules with a Thin Wire Electrostatic Trap

We describe the realization of a dc electric-field trap for ultracold polar molecules, the thin-wire electrostatic trap (TWIST). The thin wires that form the electrodes of the TWIST allow us to superimpose the trap onto a magneto-optical trap (MOT). In our experiment, ultracold polar NaCs molecules in their electronic ground state are created in the MOT via photoassociation, achieving a continuous accumulation in the TWIST of molecules in low-field seeking states. Initial measurements show that the TWIST trap lifetime is limited only by the background pressure in the chamber.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Formation of ultracold RbCs molecules by photoassociation

The formation of ultracold metastable RbCs molecules is observed in a double species magneto-optical trap through photoassociation below the ^85Rb(5S_1/2)+^133Cs(6P_3/2) dissociation limit followed by spontaneous emission. The molecules are detected by resonance enhanced two-photon ionization. Using accurate quantum chemistry calculations of the potential energy curves and transition dipole moment, we interpret the observed photoassociation process as occurring at short internuclear distance, in contrast with most previous cold atom photoassociation studies. The vibrational levels excited by photoassociation belong to the 5th 0^+ or the 4th 0^- electronic states correlated to the Rb(5P_1/2,3/2)+Cs(6S_1/2) dissociation limit. The computed vibrational distribution of the produced molecules shows that they are stabilized in deeply bound vibrational states of the lowest triplet state. We also predict that a noticeable fraction of molecules is produced in the lowest level of the electronic ground state

Production of ultracold, absolute vibrational ground state NaCs molecules

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rochester. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, 2013.This dissertation describes a progression of experiments that are based on the association of ultracold (∼250 μK) Na and Cs atoms with laser light. One of the primary goals of the experiment is to form molecules in the absolute vibrational ground state. The work begins with our attempts to label, with certainty, spectral lines obtained from tuning either the photoassociation (PA formation) and Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization (REMPI detection) lasers. To this end, we develop a technique that has heretofore never been used in the ultracold molecule community: pulsed depletion spectroscopy (PDS). Traditionally, depletion spectroscopy involves the use of narrow-linewidth CW lasers. However, the narrow linewidth and limited tuning ranges of diodes used for CW depletion spectroscopy mean that this technique is only helpful if the expected transitions are known to some degree in advance, and even then is primarily useful for determining closely-spaced rotational ground state populations. In contrast, the broad linewidth and flexible tuning range of a pulsed dye laser makes it suitable for the detection of vibrational progressions, allowing fast determination of ground state populations even without a priori knowledge of the transitions involved. We also use this technique in our investigation of excited state potential energy curves (PECs). We also investigate a range of PA resonances detuned from the Cs D1 and D2 lines. We find and label PA structure associated with at least 6, and possibly all 8 electronic states corresponding to both of the Cs 6P fine structure asymptotes. From the PA and depletion spectra, we obtain information on the PA scattering process and the excited electronic states. Among the PA spectra, we find several channels which directly form vibrational ground state molecules in the singlet electronic state. Finally, we manipulate the internal states of molecules created with PA using laser light. We use broadband laser sources to pump higher-lying singlet vibrational levels into the vibrational ground state. We also find a set of nearly-closed transitions which allow rotational pumping into the absolute rovibrational ground state

Anti-HCV activity and toxicity of PI4KIIIβ inhibitors

Type III phosphatidylinositol-4-kinase beta (PI4KIIIβ) was previously implicated in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication by siRNA depletion and was therefore proposed as a novel cellular target for the treatment of hepatitis C. Medicinal chemistry efforts identified highly selective PI4KIIIβ inhibitors that potently inhibited the replication of genotype 1a and 1b HCV replicons and genotype 2a virus in vitro. Replicon cells required more than five weeks to reach low levels of three to five-fold resistance indicating a high resistance barrier to these cellular targets. Extensive in vitro profiling of the compounds revealed a role of PI4KIIIβ in lymphocyte proliferation. Previously proposed functions of PI4KIIIβ in insulin secretion and the regulation of several ion channels were not perturbed with these inhibitors. Moreover, PI4KIIIβ inhibitors were not generally cytotoxic as demonstrated across hundreds of cell lines and primary cells. However, an unexpected anti-proliferative effect in lymphocytes precluded their further development for the treatment of hepatitis C