Work

Simulated optical molasses cooling of trapped antihydrogen

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We theoretically and computationally investigate the cooling of antihydrogen, H ¯ , using optical molasses cooling. This updates the results in Donnan et al (2013 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 46 025302) to the current capabilities of the ALPHA experiment. Through Monte Carlo simulation, we show that H ¯ s do not give the standard cooling even in an ideal optical molasses because of their small mass and large transition frequency. For optical molasses cooling in the ALPHA trap, the photons are constrained to travel in one direction only. It is only through the phase space mixing in the trap that cooling in all directions can be achieved. We explore the nontrivial role that laser intensity plays in the cooling. We also investigate the possibility for simultaneously cooling atoms in either of the trapped ground states.

Source: Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Authors: Spencer J Walsh, C Ø Rasmussen, F Robicheaux

Institutions: Purdue University West Lafayette, European Organization for Nuclear Research

Language: English

Topic: Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,325

Funders: National Science Foundation, Purdue University, Harvard University, Institute for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, Harvard University

Award: BSM-PM: Theory and Simulation for Beyond Standard Model Tests in Antihydrogen Experiments