skip to main content


Title: Enhanced molecular yield from a cryogenic buffer gas beam source via excited state chemistry
Abstract

We use narrow-band laser excitation of Yb atoms to substantially enhance the brightness of a cold beam of YbOH, a polyatomic molecule with high sensitivity to physics beyond the standard model (BSM). By exciting atomic Yb to the metastable3P1state in a cryogenic environment, we significantly increase the chemical reaction cross-section for collisions of Yb with reactants. We characterize the dependence of the enhancement on the properties of the laser light, and study the final state distribution of the YbOH products. The resulting bright, cold YbOH beam can be used to increase the statistical sensitivity in searches for new physics utilizing YbOH, such as electron electric dipole moment and nuclear magnetic quadrupole moment experiments. We also perform new quantum chemical calculations that confirm the enhanced reactivity observed in our experiment and compare reaction pathways of Yb(3P) with the reactants H2O and H2O2. More generally, our work presents a broad approach for improving experiments that use cryogenic molecular beams for laser cooling and precision measurement searches of BSM physics.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
1908634
NSF-PAR ID:
10302740
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
IOP Publishing
Date Published:
Journal Name:
New Journal of Physics
Volume:
22
Issue:
2
ISSN:
1367-2630
Page Range / eLocation ID:
Article No. 022002
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    Polyatomic molecules have been identified as sensitive probes of charge-parity violating and parity violating physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM). For example, many linear triatomic molecules are both laser-coolable and have parity doublets in the ground electronicX˜2Σ+(010)state arising from the bending vibration, both features that can greatly aid BSM searches. Understanding theX˜2Σ+(010)state is a crucial prerequisite to precision measurements with linear polyatomic molecules. Here, we characterize the fundamental bending vibration of174YbOH using high-resolution optical spectroscopy on the nominally forbiddenX˜2Σ+(010)A˜2Π1/2(000)transition at 588 nm. We assign 39 transitions originating from the lowest rotational levels of theX˜2Σ+(010)state, and accurately model the state’s structure with an effective Hamiltonian using best-fit parameters. Additionally, we perform Stark and Zeeman spectroscopy on theX˜2Σ+(010)state and fit the molecule-frame dipole moment toDmol=2.16(1)Dand the effective electrong-factor togS=2.07(2). Further, we use an empirical model to explain observed anomalous line intensities in terms of interference from spin–orbit and vibronic perturbations in the excitedA˜2Π1/2(000)state. Our work is an essential step toward searches for BSM physics in YbOH and other linear polyatomic molecules.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    The current best upper limit for electron electric dipole moment (EDM), |de| < 1.1 × 10−29e cm (90% confidence), was set by the ACME Collaboration in 2018. The ACME experiment uses a spin-precession measurement in a cold beam of thorium monoxide (ThO) molecules to detectde. An improvement in statistical uncertainty would be possible with more efficient use of molecules from the cryogenic buffer gas beam source. Here, we demonstrate electrostatic focusing of the ThO beam with a hexapole lens. This results in a factor of 16 enhancement in the molecular flux detectable downstream, in a beamline similar to that built for the next generation of ACME. We also demonstrate an upgraded rotational cooling scheme that increases the ground state population by 3.5 times compared to no cooling, consistent with expectations and a factor of 1.4 larger than previously in ACME. When combined with other demonstrated improvements, we project over an order of magnitude improvement in statistical sensitivity for the next generation ACME electron EDM search.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Reactivities of non‐heme iron(IV)‐oxo complexes are mostly controlled by the ligands. Complexes with tetradentate ligands such as [(TPA)FeO]2+(TPA=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) belong to the most reactive ones. Here, we show a fine‐tuning of the reactivity of [(TPA)FeO]2+by an additional ligand X (X=CH3CN, CF3SO3, ArI, and ArIO; ArI=2‐(tBuSO2)C6H4I) attached in solution and reveal a thus far unknown role of the ArIO oxidant. The HAT reactivity of [(TPA)FeO(X)]+/2+decreases in the order of X: ArIO > MeCN > ArI ≈ TfO. Hence, ArIO is not just a mere oxidant of the iron(II) complex, but it can also increase the reactivity of the iron(IV)‐oxo complex as a labile ligand. The detected HAT reactivities of the [(TPA)FeO(X)]+/2+complexes correlate with the Fe=O and FeO−H stretching vibrations of the reactants and the respective products as determined by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy. Hence, the most reactive [(TPA)FeO(ArIO)]2+adduct in the series has the weakest Fe=O bond and forms the strongest FeO−H bond in the HAT reaction.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    Reactivities of non‐heme iron(IV)‐oxo complexes are mostly controlled by the ligands. Complexes with tetradentate ligands such as [(TPA)FeO]2+(TPA=tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) belong to the most reactive ones. Here, we show a fine‐tuning of the reactivity of [(TPA)FeO]2+by an additional ligand X (X=CH3CN, CF3SO3, ArI, and ArIO; ArI=2‐(tBuSO2)C6H4I) attached in solution and reveal a thus far unknown role of the ArIO oxidant. The HAT reactivity of [(TPA)FeO(X)]+/2+decreases in the order of X: ArIO > MeCN > ArI ≈ TfO. Hence, ArIO is not just a mere oxidant of the iron(II) complex, but it can also increase the reactivity of the iron(IV)‐oxo complex as a labile ligand. The detected HAT reactivities of the [(TPA)FeO(X)]+/2+complexes correlate with the Fe=O and FeO−H stretching vibrations of the reactants and the respective products as determined by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy. Hence, the most reactive [(TPA)FeO(ArIO)]2+adduct in the series has the weakest Fe=O bond and forms the strongest FeO−H bond in the HAT reaction.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Calibration of nuclear‐magnetic‐resonance‐based searches for axion‐like dark matter can be performed by free induction decay (FID) measurements. This manu‐ script describes FID experiments on several solid materials, motivated by the Cosmic Axion Spin Precession Experiment (CASPEr) program. Experiments with207Pb nuclear spins in ferroelectrics, lead magnesium niobate‐lead titanate (PbMg1/3Nb2/3O3) (PbTiO3)1/3(PMN‐PT) and lead zirconium titante PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3(PZT) are directly relevant to the CASPEr‐electric search for the electric dipole moment interaction of axion‐like dark matter. Experiments with31P nuclear spins in gadolinium‐doped hydroxypyromorphite Pb4.95Gd0.05(PO4)3OH (HPM:Gd) are used for apparatus calibration. The measurements characterized the nuclear spin ensemble coherence time and the magnetic resonance detection sensitivity for these samples. Calibration is performed using small tip‐angle pulses.

     
    more » « less