Precision measurements with polar molecules: the role of the black body radiation

Nicolas Vanhaecke (1) , Olivier Dulieu (1)

1 LAC - Laboratoire Aimé Cotton

In the perspective of the outstanding developments of high-precision measurements of fundamental constants using polar molecules related to ultimate checks of fundamental theories, we investigate the possibly counterproductive role of black-body radiation on a series of diatomic molecules which would be trapped and observed for long durations. We show that the absorption of black-body radiation at room temperature may indeed limit the lifetime of trapped molecules prepared in a well-defined quantum state. Several examples are treated, corresponding to pure rotational absorption, pure vibrational absorption or both. We also investigate the role of a black-body radiation-induced energy shift on molecular levels and how it could affect high-precision frequency measurements.

Mots clés: Black-body radiation; Precision measurements; Absorption rate; Light shift; Cold polar molecules

Domaines: Physique Atomique [physics.atom-ph]; Chimie-Physique [physics.chem-ph]

Nicolas Vanhaecke, Olivier Dulieu. Precision measurements with polar molecules: the role of the black body radiation. Molecular Physics, 2007, 105 (11-12), pp.1723-1731. ⟨10.1080/00268970701466261⟩. ⟨hal-00208102⟩