A traveling wave Zeeman decelerator for precision measurements and ion-neutral chemistry at very low temperatures

This project aims at developing a new technique to generate molecules at very low temperatures using well-controlled magnetic fields, a so-called traveling-wave Zeeman decelerator. This unique device will enable applications for high-resolution spectroscopy, access to an exotic regime of chemical reactivity predominated by phenomena such as quantum tunneling and quantum reso- nances and studies of quantum computation and quantum simulation. The planed project has three major aims: The development of a traveling wave Zeeman decelerator using state-of-the-art electronics to generate novel spatial- and time-dependent magnetic fields for the manipulation of molecules is necessary for the cold molecule community. It is a powerful tool for the production of cold molecules at large number densities, which will significantly facilitate the discovery of new physical and chemical processes at very low temperatures. Cold molecule research can only be advanced by the development of novel tech- niques for the production of molecules at low temperatures. Within the scope of this application, we will employ the Zeeman decelerator for the deceleration and trapping of H2 molecules. We propose to accurately measure the lifetime of trapped molecular hydrogen in the sole existing long-lived metastable state. We will be in the position to study collisions between cold ions and cold neutral molecules, thereby gaining deeper insight into the molecular structure of such processes and to investigate the quantum nature of chemical reactions at low temperatures. The present research plan is the stepping stone towards an independent academic career for the applicant including a habilitation at the University of Basel. Funding of the applicant to prove the principle of the proposed deceleration technique for finishing his habilitation is requested from Research Fund for Junior Researchers from University of Basel as personal salary for nine months, from the first of January to the first of October of 2018. The results of the project will serve as a basis for subsequent larger grant applications, e.g., the ERC starting grant. Prof. Stefan Willitsch kindly supports the applicant by providing lab space, funding for materials, covering running costs, employing a PhD student and providing other necessary support for the applicant's habilitation.