Magneto-optical trapping of SrOH

Ultracold SrOH molecules can be used in sensitive searches for beyond Standard Model (BSM) physics, such as ultralight dark matter ^[1] and new CP-violating particles that produce an electron electric dipole moment ^[2]. In both cases, laser cooling and optical trapping of SrOH is necessary to fully exploit its sensitivity to BSM physics, since long interaction times can be achieved in optical traps and potential systematic errors are mitigated at ultracold temperatures. We report on the creation of an RF-MOT of SrOH. Ten laser light wavelengths are produced through a robust system of (mostly) fiber lasers and single-pass SFG crystals, including power recycling. The combined light closes the optical cycle sufficiently well to enable radiative slowing and the MOT. We present ongoing work analyzing 2-D transverse cooling ^[3] and improved slowing with a push beam ^[4], which should improve the MOT loading efficiency. Latest molecule numbers and temperatures will be reported.

[1]: I. Kozyryev, Z. Lasner, and J. M. Doyle, Phys. Rev. A 103, 043313 (2021).

[2]: I. Kozyryev and N. R. Hutzler, Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 133002 (2017).

[3]: X. Alauze et al, Quantum Sci. Technol. 6 044005 (2021).

[4]: T. K. Langin and D. DeMille, New J. Phys. 25 043005 (2023).