Molecules at Rest

Abstract

In recent years, much progress has been made in producing and manipulating ultracold atoms in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). But, as Williams and Julienne explain in this Perspective, molecules are poor candidates for the laser cooling techniques commonly used to produce BECs. Many groups are trying to devise techniques for making ultracold molecules. A technique reported by Wynar et al. (page 1016) has allowed the first observation of molecule formation in a BEC, and may ultimately be able to produce a pure molecular condensate.