Microwave shielding of ultracold polar molecules on the transition $\boldsymbol{n=1 \rightarrow 2}$

Abstract

We show that microwave shielding on the rotational transition $n=1\rightarrow 2$ can be effective in preventing destructive collisions between ultracold polar molecules. It is slightly less efficient than shielding on the transition $0\rightarrow 1$, but has some important advantages. In particular, it does not produce 2-molecule bound states under the conditions needed for shielding, so it will not enhance 3-body recombination. It thus obviates the need for double-field microwave shielding using a second field of different polarization.