Ultracold polar molecules are a promising platform for applications such as precision measurement, quantum computing, and quantum simulation. In typical experiments, the molecules’ lifetime is limited by loss due to molecule-molecule collisions. Surprisingly, collisional loss is observed even for chemically stable molecules, and cannot be explained by \sticky collisions”, proposed previously [1]. Instead, we show that excitation of collision complexes by the laser used to trap the molecules leads to the e ective two-body loss observed experimentally [2]. I will also discuss how collisional losses can be suppressed by engineering repulsive long-range interactions between molecules [3].
[1] Mayle, Ruzic, and Bohn, Phys. Rev. A, 85, 062712 (2013)
[2] Christianen, Zwierlein, Groenenboom, and Karman, Phys. Rev. Lett., 123, 123402 (2019)
[3] Karman and Hutson, Phys. Rev. Lett., 121, 163401 (2018)
Note: There will be no 10 minute talk. Refreshments will begin at 4:15pm.