October 17 , 2007
3pm in Howey Physics Lecture Room 5

 

David DeMille , Department of Physics
Yale University

 

"Diatomic Molecules as Quantum Tools"

We are developing new techniques to precisely manipulate both the motion and the internal states of diatomic molecules.  We are also applying these methods to address a surprisingly broad set of questions in physics--ranging all the way from particle physics to quantum computation.  I will discuss the properties of diatomic molecules that make them useful for such applications, and give highlights from our recent experimental progress.  For example, we have demonstrated the ability to trap polar molecules with ultracold temperatures (T ~ 20 microKelvin).  As another, we have begun taking data on our attempt to measure the electric dipole moment of the electron, a CP-violating effect predicted in most extensions to the Standard Model of particle physics.