Spectroscopic properties of the molecular ions BeX+ (X=Na, K, Rb): forming cold molecular ions from an ion–atom mixture by stimulated Raman adiabatic process
Hela Ladjimi, Dibyendu Sardar, Mohamed Farjallah, Nisrin Alharzali, Somnath Naskar, Rym Mlika, Hamid Berriche, Bimalendu Deb
In this theoretical work, we calculate potential energy curves, spectroscopic parameters and transition dipole moments of molecular ions BeX+ (X=Na, K, Rb) composed of alkaline ion Be and alkali atom X with a quantum chemistry approach based on the pseudopotential model, Gaussian basis sets, effective core polarisation potentials and full configuration interaction. We study in detail collisions of the alkaline ion and alkali atom in quantum regime. Besides, we study the possibility of the formation of molecular ions from the ion–atom colliding systems by stimulated Raman adiabatic process and discuss the parameters regime under which the population transfer is feasible. Our results are important for ion–atom cold collisions and experimental realisation of cold molecular ion formation.
In this theoretical work, we calculate potential energy curves, spectroscopic parameters and transition dipole moments of molecular ions BeX+ (X=Na, K, Rb) composed of alkaline ion Be and alkali atom X with a quantum chemistry approach based on the pseudopotential model, Gaussian basis sets, effective core polarisation potentials and full configuration interaction. We study in detail collisions of the alkaline ion and alkali atom in quantum regime. Besides, we study the possibility of the formation of molecular ions from the ion–atom colliding systems by stimulated Raman adiabatic process and discuss the parameters regime under which the population transfer is feasible. Our results are important for ion–atom cold collisions and experimental realisation of cold molecular ion formation.
Abstract Experiments with cold ion–atom mixtures have recently opened the way for the production and application of ultracold molecular ions. Here, in a comparative study, we theoretically investigate ground and several excited electronic states and prospects for the formation of molecular ions composed of a calcium ion and an alkali-metal atom: CaAlk+ (Alk = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs). We use a quantum chemistry approach based on non-empirical pseudopotentials, operatorial core-valence correlation, large Gaussian basis sets, and full configuration interaction method for valence electrons. Adiabatic potential energy curves, spectroscopic constants, and transition and permanent electric dipole moments are determined and analyzed for the ground and excited electronic states. We examine the prospects for ion-neutral reactive processes and the production of molecular ions via spontaneous radiative association and laser-induced photoassociation. After that, spontaneous and stimulated blackbody radiation transition rates are calculated and used to obtain radiative lifetimes of vibrational states of the ground and first-excited electronic states. The present results pave the way for the formation and spectroscopy of calcium–alkali-metal-atom molecular ions in modern experiments with cold ion–atom mixtures.
Abstract Alkaline-earth and alkali-metal mixtures have an electronic structure that is perfect for laser cooling. This makes them highly attractive for trapping and laser cooling experiments, allowing the formation of cold molecules. For this object, potential-energy curves and relevant spectroscopic parameters of the low-lying electronic excited states of 1,3Σ+, 1,3Π, and 1,3Δ symmetries of molecular-ion systems composed of alkaline-earth-ion and Francium alkali-metal-atom: ALKE-Fr+ (ALKE = Be, Mg, Ca and Sr), are determined using advanced theoretical technique in quantum chemistry, including a non-empirical pseudopotential, core-valence correlation, large Gaussian basis sets and Full Configuration Interaction (FCI). In order to obtain a more accurate understanding of the electronic structure of these systems, we also determined transition and permanent dipole moments and vibrational properties. Thereafter, the spontaneous and the black-body stimulated transition rates were determined and were employed to calculate lifetimes for all vibrational states of the ground electronic states 11Σ+ of molecular-ions under consideration. For the first and the second excited states, radiative lifetimes were investigated via the Franck–Condon approximation including bound-bound and bound-free transitions. High diagonal structure and large Franck Condon Factor (FCF) values f 00 = 0.987, f 11 = 0.959 and f 22 = 0.919 were obtained for the 11Π (v′ = 0, 1, 2)→ 11Σ+ (v = 0, 1, 2) transition making the BeFr+ system a good candidate for laser cooling. Furthermore, the current results could be used to investigate elastic scattering properties in cold-ion-atom collisions for the first excited states and may help the experimentalists for possible formation, spectroscopy, and photoassociation of cold ion-atom mixtures.
In this paper, we extensively study the electronic structure, interactions, and dynamics of the (MgCs)+ molecular ion. The exchanges between the alkaline atom and the low-energy cationic alkaline earths, which are important in the field of cold and ultracold quantum chemistry, are studied. We use an ab initio approach based on the formalism of non-empirical pseudo-potential for Mg2+ and Cs+ cores, large Gaussian basis sets, and full-valence configuration interaction. In this context, the (MgCs)+ cation is treated as an effective two-electron system. Adiabatic potential energy curves and their spectroscopic constants for the ground and the first 20 excited states of 1,3Σ+ symmetries are determined. Furthermore, we identify the avoided crossings between the electronic states of 1,3Σ+ symmetries. These crossings are related to the charge transfer process between the two ionic limits, Mg/Cs+ and Mg+/Cs. Therefore, vibrational-level spacings and the transition and permanent dipole moments are presented and analyzed. Using the produced potential energy data, the ground-state scattering wave functions and elastic cross-sections are calculated for a wide range of energies. In addition, we predict the formation of a translationally and rotationally cold molecular ion (MgCs)+ in the ground-state electronic potential energy through a stimulated Raman-type process aided by ion–atom cold collision. In the low-energy limit (<1 mK), elastic scattering cross-sections exhibit Wigner law threshold behavior, while in the high-energy limit, the cross-sections act as a function of energy E go as E−1/3. A qualitative discussion about the possibilities of forming cold (MgCs)+ molecular ions by photoassociative spectroscopy is presented.
The potential energy curves, permanent and transition dipole moments, and the static dipolar polarizability, of molecular ions composed of one alkali-metal atom and a strontium ion are determined with a quantum chemistry approach. The molecular ions are treated as effective two-electron systems and are treated using effective core potentials including core polarization, large gaussian basis sets, and full configuration interaction. In the perspective of upcoming experiments aiming at merging cold atom and cold ion traps, possible paths for radiative charge exchange, photoassociation of a cold lithium or rubidium atom and a strontium ion are discussed, as well as the formation of stable molecular ions.
The adiabatic potential energy curves, permanent and transition dipole moments (TDMs) of the highly-excited states of the MgK + molecular ion have been computed as a function of the inter-nuclear distance R. The results are obtained by an ab initio approach involving a non-empirical pseudo-potential for the Mg and K cores, correlation treatment for core valence through an effective core polarisation potential, and full valence configuration interaction. The molecule is thus treated as a two electron system. Ab initio electronic TDM functions are calculated for all dipole-allowed transitions among the 42 states of MgK + . Many of these moment functions exhibit interesting behaviour due to charge transfer or ion-atom pair correlations. The positions of a number of satellite bands are predicted from the potential energy difference curves. We verified our results by performing complete active space self-consistent field calculations followed by a multireference configuration interaction and including Davidson correction. We observe a rather good agreement for most of them especially for the ground and lower excited states. We investigate ion-atom cold collisions at quantum regime. Furthermore, we explore ion-atom elastic collisions at low temperatures, predicting the formation of translationally and rotationally cold molecular ion MgK + in the ground state electronic potential by stimulated Raman type process. Our results are important in the perspective of upcoming experiments aiming at merging cold alkali atom and alkaline-earth ion in a hybrid trap for the creation of cold molecular ions by photoassociation.
Electronic structure, spectroscopy, cold ion-atom elastic collision properties and photoassociation formation prediction of (MgCs)+ molecular ion
Studies on the interactions between an alkali atom and an alkaline earth ion at low energy are important in the field of cold chemistry. In this paper we, extensively, study the structure, interactions, and dynamics of (MgCs)+ molecular ion. We use an ab initio approach based on the formalism of non-empirical pseudo-potential for Mg2+ and Cs+ cores, large Gaussian basis sets and full valence configuration interaction. In this context, the (MgCs)+ cation is treated as an effective two-electron system. Potential energy curves and their spectroscopic constants for the ground and the first 41 excited states of 1,3Σ+, 1,3Π and 1,3Δ symmetries are determined. Furthermore, we identify the avoided crossings between the electronic states of 1,3Σ+ and 1,3Π symmetries. These crossings are related to the charge transfer process between the two ionic limits Mg/Cs+ and Mg+/Cs. In addition, vibrational-level spacings, the transition and permanent dipole moments are presented and analysed. Using the produced potential energy data, the ground-state scattering wave functions and elastic cross sections for a wide range of energies are performed. Furthermore, we predict the formation of translationally and rotationally cold molecular ion (MgCs) + in the ground state electronic potential energy by stimulated Raman type process aided by ion-atom cold collision. In the low energy limit (< 1 mK), elastic scattering cross sections exhibit Wigner law threshold behaviour; while in the high energy limit the cross sections as a function of energy E go as E−1/3. A qualitative discussion about the possibilities of forming the cold (MgCs)+ molecular ions by photoassociative spectroscopy is presented.