Trapping Molecules on a Chip
Samuel A. Meek,
Horst Conrad,
Gerard Meijer*
Magnetic trapping of atoms on chips has recently become straightforward,
but analogous trapping of molecules has proved to be challenging.
We demonstrated trapping of carbon monoxide molecules above
a chip using direct loading from a supersonic beam. Upon arrival
above the chip, the molecules are confined in tubular electric
field traps ~20 micrometers in diameter, centered 25 micrometers
above the chip, that move with the molecular beam at a velocity
of several hundred meters per second. An array of these miniaturized
moving traps is brought to a standstill over a distance of only
a few centimeters. After a certain holding time, the molecules
are accelerated off the chip again for detection. This loading
and detection methodology is applicable to a wide variety of
polar molecules, enabling the creation of a gas-phase molecular
laboratory on a chip.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: meijer{at}fhi-berlin.mpg.de
