Long Rotational Coherence Times of Molecules in a Magnetic Trap Article Swipe

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Luke Caldwell , H. J. Williams , N. J. Fitch , J. Aldegunde , Jeremy M. Hutson , B. E. Sauer , M. R. Tarbutt ·

YOU? · · 2020 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.063001 · OA: W2970093067

Polar molecules in superpositions of rotational states exhibit long-range dipolar interactions, but maintaining their coherence in a trapped sample is a challenge. We present calculations that show many laser-coolable molecules have convenient rotational transitions that are exceptionally insensitive to magnetic fields. We verify this experimentally for CaF where we find a transition with sensitivity below 5 Hz G^{-1} and use it to demonstrate a rotational coherence time of 6.4(8) ms in a magnetic trap. Simulations suggest it is feasible to extend this to more than 1 s using a smaller cloud in a biased magnetic trap.