Deflection of a Molecular Beam Using the Bichromatic Stimulated Force

Abstract

We demonstrate that a bichromatic standing-wave laser field can exert a significantly larger force on a molecule than ordinary radiation pressure. Our experiment measures the deflection of a pulsed supersonic beam of CaF molecules by a two-frequency laser field detuned symmetrically about resonance with the nearly closed $X (v=0) \rightarrow B (v'=0)$ transition. The inferred force as a function of relative phase between the two counterpropagating beams is in reasonable agreement with numerical simulations of the bichromatic force in this multilevel system. The large magnitude of the force, coupled with the reduced rate of spontaneous emission, indicates its potential utility in the production and manipulation of ultracold molecules.