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

Physical Review Letters

Photoassociation Spectroscopy of Laser-Cooled Ytterbium Atoms

Yosuke Takasu, Kaduki Komori, Keita HONDA, M. Kumakura, T. Yabuzaki, Yoshiro Takahashi

Published Sep 15, 2004• 73 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report the photoassociation spectroscopy of laser-cooled ytterbium atoms in an optical trap. We observed more than 90 photoassociation resonances of vibrational levels in the (1)Sigma(+)(u) state, including 80 consecutive series, up to 490 GHz detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. From the resonance frequencies we derived the atomic radiative lifetime of the (6s6p) 1P1 state to be 5.464+/-0.005 ns, which is about 2 orders of magnitude improvement over previous results. We also observed line broadening of resonances, which is ascribed to the predissociation to the triplet states, and estimated the transition probability to be 0.2. Furthermore, we observed the decrease of the photoassociation signal intensity, from which the scattering length is estimated to be equal to or less than 3 nm.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.93.123202

Related papers

Photoassociation Spectroscopy of Laser-Cooled Ytterbium Atoms

洋介 高須, Yosuke Takasu, 和仁 本多 +8 more

We report the photoassociation spectroscopy of laser-cooled ytterbium atoms in an optical trap. We observed more than 90 photoassociation resonances of vibrational levels in the 1Σu+ state, including 80 consecutive series, up to 490 GHz detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. From the resonance frequencies we derived the atomic radiative lifetime of the (6s6p) 1P1 state to be 5.464±0.005 ns, which is about 2 orders of magnitude improvement over previous results. We also observed line broadening of resonances, which is ascribed to the predissociation to the triplet states, and estimated the transition probability to be 0.2. Furthermore, we observed the decrease of the photoassociation signal intensity, from which the scattering length is estimated to be equal to or less than 3 nm.

•Sep 1, 2003•0 citations

High-Resolution Photoassociation Spectroscopy of Ultracold Ytterbium Atoms by Using the Intercombination Transition

賢 東條, Masaaki Kitagawa, Katsunari Enomoto +4 more

We observed high-resolution photoassociation spectra of laser-cooled ytterbium (Yb) atoms in the spin-forbidden 1S0 - 3P1 intercombination line. The rovibrational levels in the 0u+ state were measured for red detunings of the photoassociation laser ranging from 2.9 MHz to 1.97 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. The rotational splitting of the vibrational levels near the dissociation limit were fully resolved due to the sub-MHz linewidth of the spectra in contrast to previous measurements using the spin-allowed singlet transition. In addition, from a comparison between the spectra of 174Yb and those of 176Yb, a d-wave shape resonance for 174Yb is strongly suggested.

Physical Review Letters•Apr 21, 2006•65 citations

Observation of Photoassociation Spectra of Ultracold 174 Yb Atoms at 1 S 0 — 3 P 1 Inter-Combination Line

Yun Long, Zhuan-Xian Xiong, Xi Zhang +3 more

Photoassociation (PA) of cold atoms is a key tool widely used for accurate determination of long-range molecular potentials, measurement and tuning of interatomic interactions, as well as creation of desired cold molecules. We report the observation of PA spectra of ultracold ytterbium (Yb) atoms at the 1 S 0 — 3 P 1 inter-combination line by detecting the resonant loss of atoms trapped in a crossed far-off-resonance trap (crossed-FORT). Eight vibrational levels in the 1 0 + u molecular state are observed for PA laser detunings up to 1 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. The photoassociation resonances have a Lorentzian shape and sub-MHz linewidths due to the ultra low temperature of the atoms, and the resonance positions agree well with that predicted by the semiclassical formula.

Chinese Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2013•4 citations

Photoassociation spectroscopy of cold calcium atoms

C. Degenhardt, T. Binnewies, G. Wilpers +4 more

Photoassociation spectroscopy experiments on ${}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ atoms close to the dissociation limit ${4s4s}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{4s4p}^{1}{P}_{1}$ are presented. The vibronic spectrum was measured for detunings of the photoassociation laser ranging from 0.6 to 68 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. In contrast to previous measurements, the rotational splitting of the vibrational lines was fully resolved. Full quantum-mechanical numerical simulations of the photoassociation spectrum were performed which allowed us to put constraints on the possible range of the calcium scattering length between ${50a}_{0}$ and ${300a}_{0}.$

arXiv:physics/0212022•Physical Review A•Apr 22, 2003•46 citations

Precise determination of the 2P radiative atomic lifetime of lithium using photoassociative spectroscopy

W. I. McAlexander

Spectroscopy of the high-lying vibrational levels of the $1\\sp3\\Sigma\\sbsp{g}{+}$ and $1\\sp1\\Sigma\\sbsp{u}{+}$ states of both $\\rm\\sp6Li\\sb2$ and $\\rm\\sp7Li\\sb2$ has been accomplished via photoassociation of ultracold atomic lithium confined in a magneto-optical trap. Both these molecular states correlate to $2S\\sb{1/2}$ plus $2P\\sb{1/2}$ free atomic states. The long range part of these molecular potentials depends on the 2P atomic radiative lifetime. Accurate models were constructed for both the $1\\sp3\\Sigma\\sbsp{g}{+}$ and $1\\sp1\\Sigma\\sbsp{u}{+}$ potentials. By fitting these models to the experimentally measured vibrational levels observed in $\\rm\\sp6Li\\sb2$ and $\\rm\\sp7Li\\sb2$, we have been able to extract a value for the 2P lifetime of lithium. Fitting to the absolute values of the data gives a value of 26.99 $\\pm$ 0.16 ns whereas fitting to differences in the spectral features gives a value of 27.04 $\\pm$ 0.18 ns. While both values agree with previous work, improvements made in the potential models would enable this analysis to resolve the current discrepancy between experiment and theory.

•Jan 1, 1995•0 citations

Free-bound excitation and predissociation of ytterbium dimers near the S01−P11 atomic transition

Katsunari Enomoto, Ryota Takabatake, Takehiro Suzuki +3 more

A continuous excitation band of a free-bound photoassociation transition of ytterbium atoms is observed as a red wing of the $^{1}S_{0}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}P_{1}$ atomic line at 399 nm for a hot thermal vapor. The excitation to the ${0}_{u}^{+}$ molecular state is observed by monitoring fluorescence from the $^{3}P_{1}$ state atoms, which allows us to detect the production of ${\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}$ molecules with high sensitivity. The photoassociation is characterized in comparison with transitions to atomic Rydberg states. The time profile of the fluorescence signal suggests that the ${0}_{u}^{+}$ molecular state predissociates with states correlating to the $^{1}S_{0}+^{3}D_{2}$ atomic states.

Physical Review A•Jul 30, 2021•1 citation
We report the photoassociation spectroscopy of laser-cooled ytterbium atoms in an optical trap. We observed more than 90 photoassociation resonances of vibrational levels in the (1)Sigma(+)(u) state, including 80 consecutive series, up to 490 GHz detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. From the resonance frequencies we derived the atomic radiative lifetime of the (6s6p) 1P1 state to be 5.464+/-0.005 ns, which is about 2 orders of magnitude improvement over previous results. We also observed line broadening of resonances, which is ascribed to the predissociation to the triplet states, and estimated the transition probability to be 0.2. Furthermore, we observed the decrease of the photoassociation signal intensity, from which the scattering length is estimated to be equal to or less than 3 nm.
We report the photoassociation spectroscopy of laser-cooled ytterbium atoms in an optical trap. We observed more than 90 photoassociation resonances of vibrational levels in the 1Σu+ state, including 80 consecutive series, up to 490 GHz detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. From the resonance frequencies we derived the atomic radiative lifetime of the (6s6p) 1P1 state to be 5.464±0.005 ns, which is about 2 orders of magnitude improvement over previous results. We also observed line broadening of resonances, which is ascribed to the predissociation to the triplet states, and estimated the transition probability to be 0.2. Furthermore, we observed the decrease of the photoassociation signal intensity, from which the scattering length is estimated to be equal to or less than 3 nm.
We observed high-resolution photoassociation spectra of laser-cooled ytterbium (Yb) atoms in the spin-forbidden 1S0 - 3P1 intercombination line. The rovibrational levels in the 0u+ state were measured for red detunings of the photoassociation laser ranging from 2.9 MHz to 1.97 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. The rotational splitting of the vibrational levels near the dissociation limit were fully resolved due to the sub-MHz linewidth of the spectra in contrast to previous measurements using the spin-allowed singlet transition. In addition, from a comparison between the spectra of 174Yb and those of 176Yb, a d-wave shape resonance for 174Yb is strongly suggested.
Photoassociation (PA) of cold atoms is a key tool widely used for accurate determination of long-range molecular potentials, measurement and tuning of interatomic interactions, as well as creation of desired cold molecules. We report the observation of PA spectra of ultracold ytterbium (Yb) atoms at the 1 S 0 — 3 P 1 inter-combination line by detecting the resonant loss of atoms trapped in a crossed far-off-resonance trap (crossed-FORT). Eight vibrational levels in the 1 0 + u molecular state are observed for PA laser detunings up to 1 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. The photoassociation resonances have a Lorentzian shape and sub-MHz linewidths due to the ultra low temperature of the atoms, and the resonance positions agree well with that predicted by the semiclassical formula.
Photoassociation spectroscopy experiments on 40Ca{}^{40}\mathrm{Ca}40Ca atoms close to the dissociation limit ${4s4s}^{1}{S}_{0}\ensuremath{-}{4s4p}^{1}{P}_{1}$ are presented. The vibronic spectrum was measured for detunings of the photoassociation laser ranging from 0.6 to 68 GHz with respect to the atomic resonance. In contrast to previous measurements, the rotational splitting of the vibrational lines was fully resolved. Full quantum-mechanical numerical simulations of the photoassociation spectrum were performed which allowed us to put constraints on the possible range of the calcium scattering length between 50a0{50a}_{0}50a0​ and 300a0.{300a}_{0}.300a0​.
Spectroscopy of the high-lying vibrational levels of the 1sp3Sigmasbspg+1\\sp3\\Sigma\\sbsp{g}{+}1sp3Sigmasbspg+ and 1sp1Sigmasbspu+1\\sp1\\Sigma\\sbsp{u}{+}1sp1Sigmasbspu+ states of both rmsp6Lisb2\\rm\\sp6Li\\sb2rmsp6Lisb2 and rmsp7Lisb2\\rm\\sp7Li\\sb2rmsp7Lisb2 has been accomplished via photoassociation of ultracold atomic lithium confined in a magneto-optical trap. Both these molecular states correlate to 2Ssb1/22S\\sb{1/2}2Ssb1/2 plus 2Psb1/22P\\sb{1/2}2Psb1/2 free atomic states. The long range part of these molecular potentials depends on the 2P atomic radiative lifetime. Accurate models were constructed for both the 1sp3Sigmasbspg+1\\sp3\\Sigma\\sbsp{g}{+}1sp3Sigmasbspg+ and 1sp1Sigmasbspu+1\\sp1\\Sigma\\sbsp{u}{+}1sp1Sigmasbspu+ potentials. By fitting these models to the experimentally measured vibrational levels observed in rmsp6Lisb2\\rm\\sp6Li\\sb2rmsp6Lisb2 and rmsp7Lisb2\\rm\\sp7Li\\sb2rmsp7Lisb2, we have been able to extract a value for the 2P lifetime of lithium. Fitting to the absolute values of the data gives a value of 26.99 pm\\pmpm 0.16 ns whereas fitting to differences in the spectral features gives a value of 27.04 pm\\pmpm 0.18 ns. While both values agree with previous work, improvements made in the potential models would enable this analysis to resolve the current discrepancy between experiment and theory.
A continuous excitation band of a free-bound photoassociation transition of ytterbium atoms is observed as a red wing of the $^{1}S_{0}\text{\ensuremath{-}}^{1}P_{1}$ atomic line at 399 nm for a hot thermal vapor. The excitation to the 0u+{0}_{u}^{+}0u+​ molecular state is observed by monitoring fluorescence from the 3P1^{3}P_{1}3P1​ state atoms, which allows us to detect the production of Yb2{\mathrm{Yb}}_{2}Yb2​ molecules with high sensitivity. The photoassociation is characterized in comparison with transitions to atomic Rydberg states. The time profile of the fluorescence signal suggests that the 0u+{0}_{u}^{+}0u+​ molecular state predissociates with states correlating to the 1S0+3D2^{1}S_{0}+^{3}D_{2}1S0​+3D2​ atomic states.