Towards degenerate quantum gas with molecules

****https://technion.zoom.us/j/99215200704?pwd=c0E0MDIrMTdmblF6YWE4dTVEZStZZz09 **** Zoom

Collisions between cold molecules are essential for studying fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics, and may enable formation of quantum degenerate molecular matter by evaporative cooling. However, collisions between trapped, naturally occurring molecules have so far eluded direct observation due to the low collision rates of dilute samples. We report the first directly observed collisions between cold, trapped molecules, achieved without the need of laser cooling. We magnetically capture molecular oxygen in a 0.8K x kB deep superconducting trap, and set bounds on the ratio between the elastic and inelastic scattering rates, the key parameter determining the feasibility of evaporative cooling. We further co-trap and identify collisions between atoms and molecules, paving the way to studies of cold interspecies collisions in a magnetic trap. I will also discuss our studies of  molecular collisions in the moving frame of reference achieved by merging two cold molecular beams using high magnetic field gradients. I will describe the critical role of the internal molecular degrees of freedom on low energy collisional phenomena such as quantum scattering resonances.