Description
The groundbreaking research reported in this thesis details the journey that led to the creation of the first Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) of dipolar molecules, a long-standing goal in the field of ultracold quantum science for over two decades. This unique document charts the path through the significant technical, experimental, and theoretical challenges that had to be overcome to go from an empty lab to the realization of the first molecular BEC. Central to this achievement was the development of a novel collisional shielding technique, double microwave shielding, which by suppressing inelastic collisional losses by several orders of magnitude enabled the first evaporative cooling of a molecular gas to nanokelvin temperatures. This breakthrough opens new avenues for the exploration of many-body quantum systems with long-range interactions. This work has already garnered widespread attention, inspiring new research in molecular quantum liquids, quantum simulation, and quantum computing with ultracold molecules. This thesis provides a comprehensive and accessible account of the theoretical foundations, technical innovations, experimental results, and future implications of this remarkable accomplishment.
In the beginning: From vacuum to electromagnetic fields.- Simple matter: Atoms.- Increasing the complexity: Molecules.- Intermezzo: Direct laser cooling of molecules.
Niccolò Bigagli is an experimental quantum physicist specialized in the counterintuitive behaviors of molecules, atoms, and photons when they are placed in unconventional situations far from our everyday experience. During his PhD, he worked with sodium atoms, cesium atoms, and sodium-cesium molecules at ultracold temperatures in highly controlled environments, where quantum physics becomes the main driver of the collective behavior of particles. This work culminated in the realization of the world s first Bose-Einstein condensate of dipolar molecules. In parallel, he studied the laser cooling of astronomically catalogued molecular species in hopes of increasing the range of samples that can be studied in an ultracold physics laboratory. Recently, he has warmed up to higher temperatures, now working with entangled photons produced by warm rubidium sources to run experiments in quantum information. Dr. Bigagli is also interested in scientific communication, with an inkling for ways to bring together scientific notions and artistic endeavors.
