Abstract

We theoretically investigate trapping conditions for ultracold polar molecules in optical lattices when external magnetic and electric fields are simultaneously applied. Our results are based on an accurate electronic-structure calculation of the polar (NaK)-Na-23-K-40 polar molecule in its absolute ground state combined with a calculation of its rovibrational-hyperfine motion. We find that an electric field strength of 5.26(15) kV/cm and an angle of 54.7 degrees between this field and the polarization of the optical laser lead to a trapping design for (NaK)-Na-23-K-40 molecules where decoherence due to electric field strength and laser-intensity fluctuations, as well as fluctuations in the direction of its polarization, are kept to a minimum. One-standard-deviation systematic and statistical uncertainties are given in parenthesis. Under such conditions, pairs of hyperfine-rotational states of v = 0 molecules, used to induce tunable dipole-dipole interactions between them, experience ultrastable, matching trapping forces.

Publication Details
Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2017
Volume
95
DOI
10.1103/PhysRevA.95.063422
Journal
Physical Review A
Contributors