This is RadMol

About Radmol

RadMol (short for Radioactive Molecules) is an experimental group located at TRIUMF, south of the UBC Vancouver campus. As the name of the group suggests, RadMol studies radioactive molecules through exquisite quantum control using techniques from the forefront of quantum science. Why radioactive molecules? Well, it turns out that radioactive molecules are sensitive to certain types of new physics. So by probing radioactive molecules very carefully, we can make new scientific discoveries, and push the frontiers of our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of the universe.

At this time, we pursue three concurrent projects, each with a different focus.

1. Francium Silver: by combining ultracold atoms of Francium and Silver together, we aim to exploit the wonderful properties of this molecule to discover new physics!
2. Highly Charged Molecules: one of the ultimate goals of RadMol is to exercise quantum control over triply charged protactinium-229 monofluoride. This molecule promises to be one of the most sensitive to new physics. However, forming the (neutral) molecule is highly non-trivial, and getting it to a triply charged state has never been demonstrated. The Highly Charged Molecules project aims to demonstrate the capability to create multiply charged molecules like doubly charged cerium monofluoride and triply charged uranium monofluoride.
3. Spectroscopy of Ionic Molecules: in our pursuit of quantum control over exotic radioactive molecules, we first need to have a thorough understanding of the internal structures of the molecules. The Spectroscopy of Ionic Molecules project plans to perform spectroscopy on (and ultimately quantum control of) singly charged thorium-227 monofluoride as a steppingstone to our ultimate goal of triply charged protactinium-229 monofluoride.

Most Recent Collaborated Publication

"Molecules containing short-lived, radioactive nuclei are uniquely positioned to enable a wide range of scientific discoveries in the areas of fundamental symmetries, astrophysics, nuclear structure, and chemistry. Recent advances in the ability to create, cool, and control complex molecules down to the quantum level, along with recent and upcoming advances in radioactive species production at several facilities around the world, create a compelling opportunity to coordinate and combine these efforts to bring precision measurement and control to molecules containing extreme nuclei. In this manuscript, we review the scientific case for studying radioactive molecules, discuss recent atomic, molecular, nuclear, astrophysical, and chemical advances which provide the foundation for their study, describe the facilities where these species are and will be produced, and provide an outlook for the future of this nascent field."