Preparation of an ultra-cold sample of ammonia molecules for precision measurements

We present experiments in which an ultra-cold sample of ammonia molecules is released from an electrostatic trap and recaptured after a variable time. It is shown that, by performing adiabatic cooling before releasing the molecules and adiabatic re-compression after they are recaptured, we are able to observe molecules even after more than 10 ms of free expansion. A coherent measurement performed during this time will have a statistical uncertainty that decreases approximately as the inverse of the square root of the expansion time. This offers interesting prospects for high-resolution spectroscopy and precision tests of fundamental physics theories

Loading Stark-decelerated molecules into electrostatic quadrupole traps

Beams of neutral polar molecules in a low-field seeking quantum state can be slowed down using a Stark decelerator, and can subsequently be loaded and confined in electrostatic quadrupole traps. The efficiency of the trap loading process is determined by the ability to couple the decelerated packet of molecules into the trap without loss of molecules and without heating. We discuss the inherent difficulties to obtain ideal trap loading, and describe and compare different trap loading strategies. A new "split-endcap" quadrupole trap design is presented that enables improved trap loading efficiencies. This is experimentally verified by comparing the trapping of OH radicals using the conventional and the new quadrupole trap designs

Impacts of Problem-Based Instruction on Students’ Beliefs about Physics and Learning Physics

To help prepare students to address future challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), they need to develop 21st-century skills. These skills are mediated by their beliefs about the nature of scientific knowledge and practices, or epistemological beliefs. One approach shown to support students’ development of these beliefs and skills is problem-based instruction (PBI), which encourages collaborative self-directed learning while working on open-ended problems. We used a mixed-method qualitative approach to examine how implementing PBI in a physics course taught at a Dutch university affected students’ beliefs about physics and learning physics. Analysis of the responses to the course surveys (41–74% response rates) from the first implementation indicated students appreciated opportunities for social interactions with peers and use of scientific equipment with PBI but found difficulties connecting to the Internet given the COVID-19 restrictions. The Colorado Learning Attitudes towards Science Survey (CLASS), a validated survey on epistemological beliefs about physics and learning physics, was completed by a second cohort of students in a subsequent implementation of PBI for the same course; analysis of the students’ pre- and post-responses (28% response rate) showed a slight shift towards more expert-like perspectives despite challenges (e.g., access to lab). Findings from this study may inform teachers with an interest in supporting the development of students’ epistemological beliefs about STEM and the implementation of PBI in undergraduate STEM courses.</p

Elements in Tap Water. Part 3. Effect of Sample Volume and Stagnation Time on the Concentration of the Element.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Optical pumping of trapped neutral molecules by blackbody radiation

Optical pumping by blackbody radiation is a feature shared by all polar molecules and fundamentally limits the time that these molecules can be kept in a single quantum state in a trap. To demonstrate and quantify this, we have monitored the optical pumping of electrostatically trapped OH and OD radicals by room-temperature blackbody radiation. Transfer of these molecules to rotationally excited states by blackbody radiation at 295 K limits the $1/e$ trapping time for OH and OD in the $X^{2}\Pi_{3/2},v''=0,J''=3/2(f)$ state to 2.8 s and 7.1 s, respectively.Comment: corrected small mistakes; added journal reference

Mass and Shape Determination of Optically Levitated Nanoparticles

When introducing a nanoparticle into an optical trap, its mass and shape are not immediately apparent. We combine a charge-based mass measurement with a shape determination method based on light scattering and an analysis of the damping rate anisotropy, all on the same set of silica nanoparticles, trapped using optical tweezers in vacuum. These methods have previously only been used separately, and the mass determination method has not been applied to asymmetric particles before. We demonstrate that the combination of these classification techniques is required to distinguish particles with similar mass but different shape, and vice versa. The ability to identify these parameters is a key step for a range of experiments on precision measurements and sensing using optically levitated nanoparticles

Molecular enhancement factors for P, T-violating eEDM in BaCH3_3 and YbCH3_3 symmetric top molecules

High-precision tests of fundamental symmetries are looking for the parity- (P), time-reversal- (T) violating electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM) as proof of physics beyond the Standard Model. Particularly, in polyatomic molecules, the complex vibrational and rotational structure gives the possibility to reach high enhancement of the P, T-odd effects in moderate electric fields. Additionally, it is possible to increase the statistical sensitivity by using laser cooling. In this work, we calculate the P, T-odd electronic structure parameters $W_\mathrm{d}$ and $W_\mathrm{s}$ for the promising candidates BaCH$_3$ and YbCH$_3$ for the interpretation of future experiments. We employ high-accuracy relativistic coupled cluster methods and systematically evaluate the uncertainties of our computational approach. Compared to other Ba- and Yb-containing molecules, BaCH$_3$ and YbCH$_3$ exhibit larger $W_\mathrm{d}$ and $W_\mathrm{s}$ associated to increased covalent character of the M--C bond. The calculated values are $3.22\pm 0.11 \times 10^{24}\frac{h\text{Hz}}{e\text{cm}}$ and $13.80\pm 0.35 \times 10^{24}\frac{h\text{Hz}}{e\text{cm}}$ for $W_\mathrm{d}$, and $8.42\pm0.29$~$h$kHz and $45.35\pm1.15$~$h$kHz for $W_\mathrm{s}$, in BaCH$_3$ and YbCH$_3$, respectively. The robust, accurate, and cost-effective computational scheme reported in this work makes our results suitable for extracting the relevant fundamental properties from future measurements and also can be used to explore other polyatomic molecules sensitive to various violations of fundamental symmetries

Electrostatic trapping of metastable NH molecules

We report on the Stark deceleration and electrostatic trapping of $^{14}$NH ($a ^1\Delta$) radicals. In the trap, the molecules are excited on the spin-forbidden $A ^3\Pi \leftarrow a ^1\Delta$ transition and detected via their subsequent fluorescence to the $X ^3\Sigma^-$ ground state. The 1/e trapping time is 1.4 $\pm$ 0.1 s, from which a lower limit of 2.7 s for the radiative lifetime of the $a ^1\Delta, v=0,J=2$ state is deduced. The spectral profile of the molecules in the trapping field is measured to probe their spatial distribution. Electrostatic trapping of metastable NH followed by optical pumping of the trapped molecules to the electronic ground state is an important step towards accumulation of these radicals in a magnetic trap.Comment: replaced with final version, added journal referenc

Mesoscopic Interference for Metric and Curvature (MIMAC) & Gravitational Wave Detection

A compact detector for space-time metric and curvature is highly desirable. Here we show that quantum spatial superpositions of mesoscopic objects, of the type which would in principle become possible with a combination of state of the art techniques and taking into account the known sources of decoherence, could be exploited to create such a detector. By using Stern-Gerlach (SG) interferometry with masses much larger than atoms, where the interferometric signal is extracted by measuring spins, we show that accelerations as low as $5\times10^{-15}\textrm{ms}^{-2}\textrm{Hz}^{-1/2}$ or better, as well as the frame dragging effects caused by the Earth, could be sensed. Constructing such an apparatus to be non-symmetric would also enable the direct detection of curvature and gravitational waves (GWs). The GW sensitivity scales differently from the stray acceleration sensitivity, a unique feature of MIMAC. We have identified mitigation mechanisms for the known sources of noise, namely Gravity Gradient Noise (GGN), uncertainty principle and electro-magnetic forces. Hence it could potentially lead to a meter sized, orientable and vibrational noise (thermal/seismic) resilient detector of mid (ground based) and low (space based) frequency GWs from massive binaries (the predicted regimes are similar to those targeted by atom interferometers and LISA).Comment: 29 pages, 3 figure

Reflection of OH molecules from magnetic mirrors

We have reflected a Stark-decelerated beam of OH molecules under normal incidence from mirrors consisting of permanent magnets. Two different types of magnetic mirrors have been demonstrated. A long-range flat mirror made from a large disc magnet has been used to spatially focus the reflected beam in the longitudinal direction ("bunching"). A short-range curved mirror composed of an array of small cube magnets allows for transverse focusing of the reflected beam.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure