TOWARDS MAGNETIC TRAPPING OF MOLECULES

The advent of buffer-gas loaded magnetic traps for atoms has opened th e possibility of trapping paramagnetic molecules. We survey our result s on the loading, trapping and spectroscopy of Eu atoms that demonstra ted the technique. The principles governing molecular trapping conside ring in particular the O-2 and NO systems are outlined. The trapping o f molecules should prove particularly useful in spectroscopy, especial ly ultra-high resolution spectroscopy that requires cold (slow), trapp ed (long interaction time) samples. Similar to cold atoms, cold molecu les could be interrogated at a level of detail which is likely to prov ide new insights into their structure and interactions.