Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

International Conference on Spectral Line Shapes (ICSLS)

Determination of long-range interactions from photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold atoms

William C. Stwalley

Published Jan 1, 1999• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold atoms provides understanding of long-range interatomic interactions at an unprecedented level of detail. We illustrate this technique for 39K photoassociation at the 4s+4p, 4d, 6s, 5d, 7s and 6d asymptotes. Such information should allow complete calculation of atomic line broadening between appropriate asymptotes.

DOI
10.1063/1.58375

Related papers

The relationship of photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold atoms to atomic line broadening

William C. Stwalley

The cooling and trapping of atoms and atomic ions is a rapidly advancing field of fundamental science (e.g., Bose-Einstein condensation). We are attempting to extend the field to neutral molecules as well. As a first step, we are studying single- and multicolor photoassociation of ultracold (∼300 μK) 39K atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap. Photoassociation of ultracold atoms (as opposed to thermal atoms) includes sharp resonances with wavelength as long-range rovibrational levels (outer turning points of tens or hundreds of Bohr) are accessed from colliding atomic pairs with ∼10 MHz of relative kinetic energy and only a few partial waves (l=0,1,2). Potential energy curves derived from these spectra test electronic structure and long-range perturbation theory calculations of interatomic potentials. In particular, such studies yield the full set of potential energy curves needed for fully quantum calculations of atomic line broadening at any temperature.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2001•0 citations

Long-Range Interaction of ^39K(4s) + ^39K(4p) Asymptote by Photoassociative Spectroscopy of Ultracold ^39K Atoms

H. Wang, P. L. Gould, William C. Stwalley

APS•Apr 1, 1997•0 citations

Photoassociation spectroscopy of ultra-cold long-range molecules

Nicolas Vanhaecke, D. Comparat, A. Crubellier +1 more

Spectroscopic study of so-called long-range molecules, with average interatomic distances much larger than usual for chemical bonds, is conveniently performed by photoassociation (PA) of ultracold atoms. We present here a review of our results obtained by one and two-photon PA spectroscopy of the Cs 2 molecule, using as intermediate the 0 g − and 1 u potentials correlated to the (6 s +6 p 3/2 ) asymptote. These results have been interpreted using an asymptotic theoretical approach, which was specifically build for such long-range molecules.

Comptes Rendus Physique•Mar 1, 2004•6 citations

Photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold Cs below the 6P1/2 limit

Marin Pichler, Hongmin Chen, William C. Stwalley

We have performed high precision photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold cesium gas. Using trap-loss fluorescence detection and controlling the background cesium pressure we were able to photoassociate atoms into excited states of ultracold molecules with large detunings up to 56 cm(-1) below the Cs(6S(1/2)) + Cs(6P(1/2)) atomic asymptote. Vibrational progressions are assigned to 0(g)(-), 0(u)(+), and 1(g) long-range states. By fitting the spectral data to the LeRoy-Bernstein expression, the effective coefficients of the leading long-range interactions and the vibrational quantum number at dissociation are obtained. In addition we have observed spectral perturbations between states of the same symmetry belonging to different asymptotes (6P(1/2) and 6P(3/2)). The perturbations are manifested through irregular vibrational level spacings and are especially pronounced in the 0(u)(+) symmetry. Many observed rotational levels indicate d- and higher partial wave contributions to the photoassociation cross section in the presence of trapping laser light, while spectral regions with only weak features suggest nodes in the lower state wave functions corresponding to the two ground state atoms asymptote.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Jul 8, 2004•30 citations

Ultracold photoassociation spectroscopy: Long-range molecules and atomic scattering

K. M. Jones, Eite Tiesinga, Paul D. Lett +1 more

Photoassociation is the process in which two colliding atoms absorb a photon to form an excited molecule. The development of laser-cooling techniques for producing gases at ultracold $(<1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mK})$ temperatures allows photoassociation spectroscopy to be performed with very high spectral resolution. Of particular interest is the investigation of molecular states whose properties can be related, with high precision, to the properties of their constituent atoms with the ``complications'' of chemical binding accounted for by a few parameters. These include bound long-range or purely long-range vibrational states in which two atoms spend most or all of their time at large internuclear separations. Low-energy atomic scattering states also share this characteristic. Photoassociation techniques have made important contributions to the study of all of these. This review describes what is special about photoassociation spectroscopy at ultracold temperatures, how it is performed, and a sampling of results including the determination of scattering lengths, their control via optical Feshbach resonances, precision determinations of atomic lifetimes from molecular spectra, limits on photoassociation rates in a Bose-Einstein condensate, and briefly, production of cold molecules. Discussions are illustrated with examples on alkali-metal atoms as well as other species. Progress in the field is already past the point where this review can be exhaustive, but an introduction is provided on the capabilities of photoassociation spectroscopy and the techniques presently in use.

Reviews of Modern Physics•May 22, 2006•873 citations

Photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold Cs below the 6P3/2 limit

Marin Pichler, Hongmin Chen, William C. Stwalley

High precision photoassociation spectroscopy is performed in ultracold cesium gas, with detunings as large as 51 cm(-1) below the Cs(6S(1/2))+Cs(6P(3/2)) asymptote. Trap-loss fluorescence detection is used for detecting the photoassociation to excited state ultracold molecules. Long vibrational progressions are assigned to electronic states of 0(g) (-), 0(u) (+), and 1(g) symmetry. The spectral data are fitted to a LeRoy-Bernstein equation, in order to obtain the effective coefficients of the leading long-range interaction term (C(3)/R(3)) and the relative vibrational quantum numbers measured down from dissociation. Additionally we present evidence for perturbations between the 0(g) (-) state and the dark 2(u) state.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Oct 5, 2004•39 citations
The photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold atoms provides understanding of long-range interatomic interactions at an unprecedented level of detail. We illustrate this technique for 39K photoassociation at the 4s+4p, 4d, 6s, 5d, 7s and 6d asymptotes. Such information should allow complete calculation of atomic line broadening between appropriate asymptotes.
The cooling and trapping of atoms and atomic ions is a rapidly advancing field of fundamental science (e.g., Bose-Einstein condensation). We are attempting to extend the field to neutral molecules as well. As a first step, we are studying single- and multicolor photoassociation of ultracold (∼300 μK) 39K atoms confined in a magneto-optical trap. Photoassociation of ultracold atoms (as opposed to thermal atoms) includes sharp resonances with wavelength as long-range rovibrational levels (outer turning points of tens or hundreds of Bohr) are accessed from colliding atomic pairs with ∼10 MHz of relative kinetic energy and only a few partial waves (l=0,1,2). Potential energy curves derived from these spectra test electronic structure and long-range perturbation theory calculations of interatomic potentials. In particular, such studies yield the full set of potential energy curves needed for fully quantum calculations of atomic line broadening at any temperature.
Spectroscopic study of so-called long-range molecules, with average interatomic distances much larger than usual for chemical bonds, is conveniently performed by photoassociation (PA) of ultracold atoms. We present here a review of our results obtained by one and two-photon PA spectroscopy of the Cs 2 molecule, using as intermediate the 0 g − and 1 u potentials correlated to the (6 s +6 p 3/2 ) asymptote. These results have been interpreted using an asymptotic theoretical approach, which was specifically build for such long-range molecules.
We have performed high precision photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold cesium gas. Using trap-loss fluorescence detection and controlling the background cesium pressure we were able to photoassociate atoms into excited states of ultracold molecules with large detunings up to 56 cm(-1) below the Cs(6S(1/2)) + Cs(6P(1/2)) atomic asymptote. Vibrational progressions are assigned to 0(g)(-), 0(u)(+), and 1(g) long-range states. By fitting the spectral data to the LeRoy-Bernstein expression, the effective coefficients of the leading long-range interactions and the vibrational quantum number at dissociation are obtained. In addition we have observed spectral perturbations between states of the same symmetry belonging to different asymptotes (6P(1/2) and 6P(3/2)). The perturbations are manifested through irregular vibrational level spacings and are especially pronounced in the 0(u)(+) symmetry. Many observed rotational levels indicate d- and higher partial wave contributions to the photoassociation cross section in the presence of trapping laser light, while spectral regions with only weak features suggest nodes in the lower state wave functions corresponding to the two ground state atoms asymptote.
Photoassociation is the process in which two colliding atoms absorb a photon to form an excited molecule. The development of laser-cooling techniques for producing gases at ultracold (<1mK)(<1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mK})(<1mK) temperatures allows photoassociation spectroscopy to be performed with very high spectral resolution. Of particular interest is the investigation of molecular states whose properties can be related, with high precision, to the properties of their constituent atoms with the ``complications'' of chemical binding accounted for by a few parameters. These include bound long-range or purely long-range vibrational states in which two atoms spend most or all of their time at large internuclear separations. Low-energy atomic scattering states also share this characteristic. Photoassociation techniques have made important contributions to the study of all of these. This review describes what is special about photoassociation spectroscopy at ultracold temperatures, how it is performed, and a sampling of results including the determination of scattering lengths, their control via optical Feshbach resonances, precision determinations of atomic lifetimes from molecular spectra, limits on photoassociation rates in a Bose-Einstein condensate, and briefly, production of cold molecules. Discussions are illustrated with examples on alkali-metal atoms as well as other species. Progress in the field is already past the point where this review can be exhaustive, but an introduction is provided on the capabilities of photoassociation spectroscopy and the techniques presently in use.
High precision photoassociation spectroscopy is performed in ultracold cesium gas, with detunings as large as 51 cm(-1) below the Cs(6S(1/2))+Cs(6P(3/2)) asymptote. Trap-loss fluorescence detection is used for detecting the photoassociation to excited state ultracold molecules. Long vibrational progressions are assigned to electronic states of 0(g) (-), 0(u) (+), and 1(g) symmetry. The spectral data are fitted to a LeRoy-Bernstein equation, in order to obtain the effective coefficients of the leading long-range interaction term (C(3)/R(3)) and the relative vibrational quantum numbers measured down from dissociation. Additionally we present evidence for perturbations between the 0(g) (-) state and the dark 2(u) state.