The Journal of Chemical Physics
Spectroscopy and applications of the 3 3Σ+ electronic state of 39K85Rb
Jayita Banerjee, David Rahmlow, Ryan Carollo, Michael Bellos, Edward E. Eyler, P. L. Gould, William C. Stwalley
Abstract
We report new results on the spectroscopy of the 3 (3)Σ(+) electronic state of (39)K(85)Rb. The observations are based on resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization of ultracold KRb molecules starting in vibrational levels v'' = 18-23 of the a (3)Σ(+) state and ionized via the intermediate 3 (3)Σ(+) state. The a-state ultracold molecules are formed by photoassociation of ultracold (39)K and (85)Rb atoms to the 3(0(+)) state of KRb followed by spontaneous emission. We discuss the potential applications of this state to future experiments, as a pathway for populating the lowest vibrational levels of the a state as well as the X state.