Spectroscopy of laser cooling transitions in MgF

Published

August 23, 2024

Author(s)

Nickolas Pilgram, Benjamin Baldwin, David La Mantia, Stephen Eckel, Eric Norrgard

Abstract

We measure the complete set of transition frequencies necessary to laser cool and trap MgF molecules. Specifically, we report the frequency of multiple low $J$ transitions of the $X^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime\prime}=0,1) \rightarrow A^2\Pi_1⁄2(v^\prime=0)$, $X^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime\prime}=1,2) \rightarrow A^2\Pi_1⁄2(v^\prime=1)$, and $X^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime\prime}=1) \rightarrow B^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime}=0)$ bands of MgF. The measured $X^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime\prime}=1)\rightarrow B^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime=0)$ spectrum allowed the spin-rotation and hyperfine parameters of the $B^2\Sigma^+(v=0)$ state of MgF to be determined. Furthermore, we demonstrate optical cycling in MgF by pumping molecules into the $X^2\Sigma^+(v=1,2)$ states. Optical pumping enhances the spectroscopic signals of transitions originating in the $N^\prime\prime}=1$ level of the $X^2\Sigma^+(v^\prime\prime}=1,2)$ states.

Citation

Physical Review A

Pub Type

Journals

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https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.110.023110

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Citation

Pilgram, N. , Baldwin, B. , La Mantia, D. , Eckel, S. and Norrgard, E. (2024), Spectroscopy of laser cooling transitions in MgF, Physical Review A, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.110.023110, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957569 (Accessed October 17, 2025)