From: mk_thisisit
The National Laboratory of Atomic and Molecular Physics in Toruń is at the forefront of quantum physics research, focusing on developing modern technologies, primarily laser technologies [01:27:30]. These advancements are crucial for testing quantum theory at atomic and molecular levels [01:27:30].
Ultra-Precise and Ultra-Stable Lasers
Researchers are developing ultra-precise and ultra-stable lasers to test quantum theory on a molecular scale [01:30:17]. By using visible or near-visible light, they achieve enormous measurement accuracy, enabling them to study the standard model without requiring very high energy inputs, but rather extremely high accuracy [02:50:00].
Optical Atomic Clocks
Optical atomic clocks are a key application of these technologies, utilized at the Institute of Physics in Toruń for research, including the study of fundamental constants [13:37:00]. These clocks define time with extreme precision [05:50:00].
Cryogenic Laser and Photonic Technologies
A significant aspect of current research involves transferring laser and photonic technologies to the cryogenic temperature regime [14:53:00]. This includes conducting the coldest measurements of molecular hydrogen to date [00:51:00], aiming to see if quantum theory extends beyond atomic physics to molecular physics [00:59:00].
Trapping Molecular Hydrogen
One of the most challenging applications is the trapping of molecular hydrogen, which no one has successfully achieved on Earth so far [13:30:00]. Molecular hydrogen is the smallest and simplest molecule in nature [16:13:00]. It interacts extremely weakly with electric and magnetic fields, making conventional laser cooling and trapping techniques, which work for many atoms and molecules, unsuitable [16:29:00].
To overcome this, researchers are developing ultra-modern experimental technologies that are pushing the physical limits [17:01:00]. This high-risk project requires mastering technologies to their physical boundaries [17:15:00].
Ultra-Strong Laser Fields and Optical Cavities
The solution involves creating an ultra-strong laser field using an optical cavity with ultra-high finesse [18:21:00]. This setup allows photons to remain trapped between two mirrors for macroscopic periods [18:32:00]. The average power of these photons can reach levels of single megawatts [18:43:00].
This trapping method is crucial because it allows for the isolation of the quantum system from the environment, enabling extremely precise measurements [15:57:00]. The ability to trap molecular hydrogen will open the way for applying a cascade of cold atom and molecule physics technologies to this simplest molecule [19:00:00]. This will allow for testing quantum theory at a very high level of accuracy using a simple, countable system [19:17:00].
The process involves generating an ultra-strong configuration of laser and electric fields to hold the molecular hydrogen [20:08:00]. Almost 1 MW of continuous optical power will be trapped between two mirrors with an ultra-high reflectivity coefficient [20:24:00]. Special cryogenic modules within the vacuum chamber isolate the system from temperature and blackbody radiation [20:43:00]. Hydrogen molecules, in very small amounts, will levitate inside this cryogenic vacuum chamber, detected by an extremely strong ultraviolet pulse that causes ionization [21:02:00]. Levitation means the laser forces are strong enough to prevent the molecule from escaping thermally or gravitationally [21:26:00].
Funding and Impact
The total budget for this project is approximately 20 million zlotys [21:47:00], supported by an almost 2 million euro European grant, which is one of the largest individual research projects in physics in Poland [22:47:00]. This endeavor is considered one of the biggest tests of quantum theory [21:59:00].