Deflection of barium-monofluoride molecules

The EDMcubed scheme [1] for measuring the electron electric dipole moment using BaF embedded in an Ar solid requires a BaF deflection to separate BaF from other products produced in a buffer-gas laser-ablation source. Both experimental and theoretical progress will be presented on implementing this deflection. Density-matrix simulations of an optical scheme for producing a large optical force on barium-monofluoride (BaF) molecules [2] will be presented. The scheme uses short laser pulses to induce excitation to the A Pi 1/2 state, with pulses from counter-propagating laser beams causing stimulated emission back to the ground electronic state. A magnetic field is used to remove degeneracies to avoid dark states. The calculated force is an order of magnitude larger than the maximum force possible with CW laser schemes. Because the molecules spend little time in the excited state, spontaneous decay is minimized, reducing or eliminating the need for re-pump lasers from other states (e.g., other ground vibrational states). An alternate scheme using bichromatic forces will also be discussed. Experimental progress on using electrostatic deflection will also be presented.

[1] A. C. Vutha, M. Horbatsch and E. A. Hessels, Phys. Rev. A 98, 032513 (2018).

[2] A. Marsman, D. Heinrich, M. Horbatsch and E. A. Hessels, arXiv:2301.06663 (2023).