Reaching high densities is a key step toward cold-collision experiments with polyatomic molecules. We use a cryofuge to load up to 2×10^{7} CH_{3}F molecules into a boxlike electric trap, achieving… Click to show full abstract
Reaching high densities is a key step toward cold-collision experiments with polyatomic molecules. We use a cryofuge to load up to 2×10^{7} CH_{3}F molecules into a boxlike electric trap, achieving densities up to 10^{7}/cm^{3} at temperatures around 350 mK where the elastic dipolar cross section exceeds 7×10^{-12} cm^{2}. We measure inelastic rate constants below 4×10^{-8} cm^{3}/s and control these by tuning a homogeneous electric field that covers a large fraction of the trap volume. Comparison to ab initio calculations gives excellent agreement with dipolar relaxation. Our techniques and findings are generic and immediately relevant for other cold-molecule collision experiments.
               
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