Joost van den Berg has successfully defended his thesis on the 4th of september 2015. Congratulations!

Traveling-wave Stark deceleration of SrF molecules

PhD ceremony:        J.E. (Joost) van den Berg, MSc        
When:        September 04, 2015        
Start:        12:45        
Promotors:        prof. dr. S. (Steven) Hoekstra, prof. dr. K.H.K.J. (Klaus) Jungmann        
Where:        Academy building RUG        
Faculty:        Mathematics and Natural Sciences        

In this thesis we describe an experiment to decelerate SrF (strontium-monofluoride) molecules. Decelerating these molecules is an important step towards precision measurements with these molecules, for example to test the Standard Model.  The Standard Model describes the interaction of all the elementary particles through the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear force, and the electromagnetic force. Although the Standard Model is very successful and accurate, it does not include all the physics we know of. For instance, it does not describe gravity or dark matter.

The validity of the Standard Model can be tested in collision experiments in particle accelerators like at CERN, or in very precise small table-top experiments.Unknown physics can cause very subtle deviations in the structure of molecules. These deviations can be sought for in very precise measurements on decelerated molecules. By decelerating the molecules in vacuum, and by making them very cold, the molecules can be prepared such that the required precision is achieved.

Heavy molecules are most suited for these precision tests of the Standard Model. However, they are difficult to decelerate. We proposed to build a so-called traveling-wave Stark decelerator of five meter length. This device should enable the deceleration of SrF molecules. This was verified by computer simulations. We then built the decelerator and showed the first time successful deceleration of SrF molecules. This paves the way for precision measurements on heavy molecules.

Here you can find a link to the thesis.