AIP conference proceedings

Continuous Production of Cold KRb

Luís Gustavo Marcassa

Published Jan 1, 2005• 0 citations

Abstract

In this paper we report the observation of translationally ultracold heteronuclear groundstate molecules in a two species magneto‐optical trap (MOT) containing 39K and 85Rb atoms. The KRb molecules are produced via photoassociation and detected by multiphoton ionization. Their temperature and formation rate constant were characterized. The two species MOTs may be used in the future as a reliable source of ultracold molecules to be captured by electrostatic, magnetic or optical traps. This possibility will certainly motivate further investigation of quantum collective effects as well as high‐resolution spectroscopy of the rovibrational level structure of cold heteronuclear molecular systems.

DOI: 10.1063/1.1928851

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AIP conference proceedings

Continuous Production of Cold KRb

Luís Gustavo Marcassa

Published Jan 1, 2005• 0 citations

Publisher

Abstract

DOI: 10.1063/1.1928851

Related papers

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Physical Review LettersApr 2, 2004163 citations

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Jan 1, 20142 citations

{\mathrm{K}\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}}^{+}

. A portion of the metastable triplet molecules thus formed are magnetically trapped. Photoassociative spectra down to $91\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{c}\mathrm{m}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ below the

\mathrm{K}(4s)+\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}(5{p}_{1/2})

asymptote have been obtained. We have made assignments to all eight of the attractive Hund's case (c) KRb* potential curves in this spectral region.

We describe the experimental observation of ultracold

{\mathrm{NaCs}}^{+}

molecular formation in a novel two-species magneto-optical trap. We interpret our observations in terms of a photoassociative ionization pathway similar to that observed in a sodium trap: $\mathrm{Na}+\mathrm{Cs}+\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{Na}}+\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{Cs}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\mathrm{NaCs}}^{+}{+e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. We have directly measured the

{\mathrm{NaCs}}^{+}

production rate as a function of the excitation laser frequency and intensity elucidating the role of ground-state hyperfine levels. We have observed resonance structures in the frequency-dependent ion rate which we associate with the molecular character of the process.

^{87}\text{R}\text{b}

with

^{174}\text{Y}\text{b}

and

^{176}\text{Y}\text{b}

. The molecules could be prepared in well-defined rovibrational levels, allowing for an experimental determination of the long-range potential in the electronically excited state.