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Production and spectroscopy of cold radioactive molecules.

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Title: Production and spectroscopy of cold radioactive molecules.
Authors: Conn, Chandler J. (AUTHOR), Yu, Phelan (AUTHOR), Howard, Madison I. (AUTHOR), Yang, Yuxi (AUTHOR), Zhang, Chaoqun (AUTHOR), Jadbabaie, Arian (AUTHOR), Gorou, Aikaterini (AUTHOR), Gaiser, Alyssa N. (AUTHOR), Steimle, Timothy C. (AUTHOR), Cheng, Lan (AUTHOR), Hutzler, Nicholas R. (AUTHOR)
Source: Science. 7/16/2026, Vol. 393 Issue 6808, p319-323. 5p.
Subjects: Laser spectroscopy, Radioactive elements, Physical measurements, Low temperature engineering, Molecules, Radioactive substances
Abstract: Molecules with heavy, radioactive nuclei promise extreme sensitivity to fundamental nuclear and particle physics. However, these nuclei are available in limited quantities, which challenges their use in precision measurements. Here we demonstrate the gas-phase synthesis, cryogenic cooling, and high-resolution laser spectroscopy of radium monohydroxide, monodeuteroxide, and monofluoride molecules (226RaOH, 226RaOD, and 226RaF) in a tabletop apparatus by combining trace radioactive target production protocols, optically driven chemistry in a cryogenic buffer gas, and low-background spectroscopic detection methods. The molecules are cooled in the lab frame, creating conditions that are the same starting points as those for many current molecular precision measurement and quantum information experiments. This approach can be readily applied to a wide range of species and establishes key capabilities for molecular quantum sensing of exotic nuclei. Editor's summary: The spectroscopy of atoms and molecules containing deformed, pear-shaped nuclei may be able to provide insight into physics beyond the Standard Model because of the amplified sensitivity to symmetry violations of such nuclei. Radium-containing molecules are prime candidates for these studies, but they remain a difficult target for precision spectroscopy. Conn et al. achieved the production, cooling, and high-resolution laser spectroscopy of radium-226 monohydroxide, monodeuteroxide, and monofluoride molecules in a tabletop apparatus (see the Perspective by Caldwell). The approach is expected to be readily extendable to a broad range of short-lived radioisotopes and complex molecular structures. —Jelena Stajic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Production and spectroscopy of cold radioactive molecules.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Conn%2C+Chandler+J%2E%22">Conn, Chandler J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu%2C+Phelan%22">Yu, Phelan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Howard%2C+Madison+I%2E%22">Howard, Madison I.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Yuxi%22">Yang, Yuxi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Chaoqun%22">Zhang, Chaoqun</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jadbabaie%2C+Arian%22">Jadbabaie, Arian</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gorou%2C+Aikaterini%22">Gorou, Aikaterini</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gaiser%2C+Alyssa+N%2E%22">Gaiser, Alyssa N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Steimle%2C+Timothy+C%2E%22">Steimle, Timothy C.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cheng%2C+Lan%22">Cheng, Lan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hutzler%2C+Nicholas+R%2E%22">Hutzler, Nicholas R.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science%22">Science</searchLink>. 7/16/2026, Vol. 393 Issue 6808, p319-323. 5p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Laser+spectroscopy%22">Laser spectroscopy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radioactive+elements%22">Radioactive elements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+measurements%22">Physical measurements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+temperature+engineering%22">Low temperature engineering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Molecules%22">Molecules</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radioactive+substances%22">Radioactive substances</searchLink>
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  Data: Molecules with heavy, radioactive nuclei promise extreme sensitivity to fundamental nuclear and particle physics. However, these nuclei are available in limited quantities, which challenges their use in precision measurements. Here we demonstrate the gas-phase synthesis, cryogenic cooling, and high-resolution laser spectroscopy of radium monohydroxide, monodeuteroxide, and monofluoride molecules (226RaOH, 226RaOD, and 226RaF) in a tabletop apparatus by combining trace radioactive target production protocols, optically driven chemistry in a cryogenic buffer gas, and low-background spectroscopic detection methods. The molecules are cooled in the lab frame, creating conditions that are the same starting points as those for many current molecular precision measurement and quantum information experiments. This approach can be readily applied to a wide range of species and establishes key capabilities for molecular quantum sensing of exotic nuclei. Editor's summary: The spectroscopy of atoms and molecules containing deformed, pear-shaped nuclei may be able to provide insight into physics beyond the Standard Model because of the amplified sensitivity to symmetry violations of such nuclei. Radium-containing molecules are prime candidates for these studies, but they remain a difficult target for precision spectroscopy. Conn et al. achieved the production, cooling, and high-resolution laser spectroscopy of radium-226 monohydroxide, monodeuteroxide, and monofluoride molecules in a tabletop apparatus (see the Perspective by Caldwell). The approach is expected to be readily extendable to a broad range of short-lived radioisotopes and complex molecular structures. —Jelena Stajic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1126/science.aea9413
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 5
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      – SubjectFull: Laser spectroscopy
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      – SubjectFull: Radioactive elements
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      – SubjectFull: Physical measurements
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      – SubjectFull: Low temperature engineering
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      – SubjectFull: Radioactive substances
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      – TitleFull: Production and spectroscopy of cold radioactive molecules.
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              Text: 7/16/2026
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