Center Seminar: Ultracold Molecules for Chemistry and Physics 1:20 PM, 02/25, 2019
Title: Ultracold Molecules for Chemistry and Physics
Time: 1:20 PM, 02/25, 2019
Place: NCTS Lecture Room A, 4F, 3rd General Building
Speaker: Prof. Kang-Kuen Ni (Harvard University)
Abstract:
The role of molecular spectroscopy in physics has evolved over the years.
It was traditionally used to study molecular structure and its underlying
quantum mechanics. Later, it led to various applications, including the
first “atomic clock” that was actually based on molecular
vibrations. More recent advances in techniques for quantum
manipulation of molecules bring new directions including the use of
molecules to search for new physics and harness molecular resources
for quantum engineering.
My group develops new techniques to bring molecules to ultracold
temperatures and use them as quantum building blocks. I will present
our recent experimental work on building single gas-phase ultracold molecules.
This work allows us to go beyond the usual paradigm of chemical reactions
that proceed via stochastic encounters between reactants, to a
single, controlled reaction of exactly two atoms. We foresee
single molecules as valuable resources for quantum simulation and
quantum computation due to their rich internal degrees of
freedom and strong dipolar interactions. I will also touch on how
ultracold molecules (< 1 μK) provide a rich playground to study
chemical reactions where quantum mechanics plays an important role.