Laser cooling of copper monofluoride: a theoretical study including spin–orbit coupling. Issue 102 (24th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fu, Mingkai; Cao, Jianwei; Ma, Haitao; Bian, Wensheng
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 102(2016)
• Page Start: 100568
• Page End: 100576
• Publication Date: 2016-10-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra07835d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : A laser cooling scheme is proposed for CuF by including the spin–orbit coupling effects, and based on our calculated radiative lifetimes and vibrational branching ratios. Abstract : The feasibility of direct laser cooling of copper monofluoride (CuF) is investigated and assessed using ab initio methods with the inclusion of spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effects. Seven low-lying Λ–S states are calculated using an explicitly correlated multireference configuration interaction method with the Davidson correction (MRCI-F12 + Q ). The spectroscopic properties of the Ω states are calculated, which are in very good agreement with the available experimental measurements and indicate that the influence of SOC effects is evident. We find that, the radiative lifetimes of transitions A ( ν ′ = 0) → a 3 Σ+1, b 3 Π1, 0 + are much longer than that of the A ( ν ′ = 0) → X ( ν = 0) transition; the vibrational branching ratios R ν ′ ν for the A ( ν ′) ← X ( ν ) transition are highly diagonally distributed with R 00 being 0.991; and the evaluated transition wavelengths are located in the visible region. We further propose a laser cooling scheme based on the A ( ν ′) ← X ( ν ) transition, with which the laser cooling of CuF can be realized effectively. Moreover, a photoionization method is suggested for the magneto-optical trap detection of CuF.