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 A

Rotationally resolved depletion spectroscopy of ultracold KRb molecules

Dajun Wang, J. T. Kim, C. Ashbaugh, Edward E. Eyler, P. L. Gould, William C. Stwalley

Published Mar 20, 2007• 53 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on the use of depletion spectroscopy to detect ultracold ground-state KRb molecules with rotational resolution. The population of a specific ground-state vibrational level ${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}$, produced by photoassociation of ultracold atoms, is monitored by one-color two-photon pulsed-laser ionization. When a cw laser is resonant with a rovibrational transition to an excited state, the ground-state population, and hence the ion signal, is depleted. This narrow-band spectroscopic technique allows the individual rotational levels in both ground and excited states to be resolved, and thus the population of a single ground-state rovibrational level to be monitored. These resolved transitions are a necessary first step in transferring population from high vibrational levels of the ground state, such as produced by photoassociation, to the absolute molecular ground state $X\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ (${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=0$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=0$). This technique can also be used to determine binding energies of high-${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}$ molecules. Combining our binding energy measurement with the results of previous spectroscopy yields an improved dissociation energy of the $X$ state: ${D}_{e}=4217.822\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. We also report on the two-color pulsed-laser ionization used to locate the depletion transitions.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.75.032511

Related papers

Production of ultracold heteronuclear KRb molecules

Dajun Wang

This thesis describes the spectroscopy work on ultracold 39K 85Rb molecules as part of our effort towards producing ground-state ultracold polar molecules. ^ The starting points of our experiment are laser cooled and trapped K and Rb atoms in dual-species MOTs and the molecule formation method is photoassociation (PA). A fraction of the PA-produced excited-state molecules can spontaneously emit to the two lowest electronic states, the X 1Σ + state and the a 3Σ + state, to form high vibrational level molecules. In order to develop a population transfer scheme to make deeply bound molecules, we have studied the spectroscopy of KRb in several steps. Besides the PA step, we have also carried out a state-selective detection experiment to study the population distribution of the high vibrational level molecules formed via spontaneous emission. The detection method is pulsed-laser based ion time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Due to the linewidth limitations of the pulsed laser, this detection method can only resolve vibrational structures. A cw laser induced ion depletion spectroscopy technique has been developed in order to obtain rotational resolution. Using this ion depletion method, we have studied a possible stimulated Raman transfer scheme via the 3 1Σ+ state. To this end, we have obtained all the spectroscopic information required to produce deeply bound KRb molecules in a single vibrational and rotational level. ^ Several other spectroscopic studies using the high vibrational level ultracold molecules are also discussed. ^

•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Rotationally-resolved depletion spectroscopy of ultracold KRb molecules

Dajun Wang, J. T. Kim, C. Ashbaugh +3 more

We use photoassociation of ultracold atoms to produce ultracold KRb molecules in high vibrational levels of the ground state. Depletion spectroscopy is employed to detect these molecules with both vibrational and rotational resolution.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•May 1, 2007•2 citations

Rotationally-Resolved Depletion Spectroscopy of Ultracold KRb Molecules

Dajun Wang, C. Ashbaugh, J. T. Kim +3 more

We report on the use of depletion spectroscopy to detect ultracold ground-state KRb molecules with rotational resolution. Binding energies of these molecules and possible intermediate rovibrational levels for Raman transfer are also explored.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2006•1 citation

State-selective detection of near-dissociation ultracold KRb X Σ + 1 and a Σ + 3 molecules

Dajun Wang, Edward E. Eyler, P. L. Gould +1 more

We report on the state-selective detection of near-dissociation ultracold KRb molecules in the ground $X\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ state and the metastable $a\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ state. The molecules are produced by photoassociation of ultracold atoms followed by radiative decay into high vibrational levels of the $X$ and $a$ states. Detection utilizes resonance-enhanced one-color two-photon ionization, followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Scanning the detection laser frequency over the range $582--625\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, we observe transitions from the ${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=86--92$ levels of the $X$ state, which are bound by up to $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and the ${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=17--23$ levels of the $a$ state, which are also bound by up to $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The measured vibrational spacings are in excellent agreement with those previously measured and those calculated from the relevant potential curves. Relative vibrational populations are also consistent with Franck-Condon factors for decay from the photoassociated levels.

arXiv:physics/0506232•Physical Review A•Sep 13, 2005•28 citations

Formation of Ultracold Polar Molecules in the Rovibrational Ground State

Johannes Deiglmayr, A. Grochola, M. Repp +6 more

Ultracold LiCs molecules in the absolute ground state $X^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$, ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$ are formed via a single photoassociation step starting from laser-cooled atoms. The selective production of ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=2$ molecules with a 50-fold higher rate is also demonstrated. The rotational and vibrational state of the ground state molecules is determined in a setup combining depletion spectroscopy with resonant-enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy. Using the determined production rate of up to $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\text{molecules}}/\mathrm{s}$, we describe a simple scheme which can provide large samples of externally and internally cold dipolar molecules.

arXiv:0807.3272•Physical Review Letters•Sep 25, 2008•588 citations

Rotational Population Measurement of Ultracold 85 Rb 133 Cs Molecules in the Lowest Vibrational Ground State

Zhonghua Ji, Zhonghao Li, Ting Gong +3 more

We measure the rotational populations of ultracold 85 Rb 133 Cs molecules in the lowest vibrational ground state by a depletion spectroscopy and quantify the molecular production rate based on the measurement of single ion signal area. The 85 Rb 133 Cs molecules in the are formed from the short-range molecular state. A home-made external-cavity diode laser is used as the depletion laser to measure the rotational populations of the formed molecules. Based on the determination of single ion signal, the production rates of molecules in the J = 0 and J = 2 rotational levels are derived to be 4800 mole/s and 7200 mole/s, respectively. The resolution and quantification of molecules in rotational states are facilitative for the manipulation of rotational quantum state of ultracold molecules.

Chinese Physics Letters•Oct 1, 2017•5 citations
We report on the use of depletion spectroscopy to detect ultracold ground-state KRb molecules with rotational resolution. The population of a specific ground-state vibrational level v\ensuremath′′{v}^{\ensuremath{''}}v\ensuremath′′, produced by photoassociation of ultracold atoms, is monitored by one-color two-photon pulsed-laser ionization. When a cw laser is resonant with a rovibrational transition to an excited state, the ground-state population, and hence the ion signal, is depleted. This narrow-band spectroscopic technique allows the individual rotational levels in both ground and excited states to be resolved, and thus the population of a single ground-state rovibrational level to be monitored. These resolved transitions are a necessary first step in transferring population from high vibrational levels of the ground state, such as produced by photoassociation, to the absolute molecular ground state X1\ensuremathΣ+X\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}X1\ensuremathΣ+ (v\ensuremath′′=0{v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=0v\ensuremath′′=0, J\ensuremath′′=0{J}^{\ensuremath{''}}=0J\ensuremath′′=0). This technique can also be used to determine binding energies of high-v\ensuremath′′{v}^{\ensuremath{''}}v\ensuremath′′ molecules. Combining our binding energy measurement with the results of previous spectroscopy yields an improved dissociation energy of the XXX state: De=4217.822\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.003cm\ensuremath−1{D}_{e}=4217.822\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}De​=4217.822\ifmmode±\else\textpm\fi0.003cm\ensuremath−1. We also report on the two-color pulsed-laser ionization used to locate the depletion transitions.
This thesis describes the spectroscopy work on ultracold 39K 85Rb molecules as part of our effort towards producing ground-state ultracold polar molecules. ^ The starting points of our experiment are laser cooled and trapped K and Rb atoms in dual-species MOTs and the molecule formation method is photoassociation (PA). A fraction of the PA-produced excited-state molecules can spontaneously emit to the two lowest electronic states, the X 1Σ + state and the a 3Σ + state, to form high vibrational level molecules. In order to develop a population transfer scheme to make deeply bound molecules, we have studied the spectroscopy of KRb in several steps. Besides the PA step, we have also carried out a state-selective detection experiment to study the population distribution of the high vibrational level molecules formed via spontaneous emission. The detection method is pulsed-laser based ion time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Due to the linewidth limitations of the pulsed laser, this detection method can only resolve vibrational structures. A cw laser induced ion depletion spectroscopy technique has been developed in order to obtain rotational resolution. Using this ion depletion method, we have studied a possible stimulated Raman transfer scheme via the 3 1Σ+ state. To this end, we have obtained all the spectroscopic information required to produce deeply bound KRb molecules in a single vibrational and rotational level. ^ Several other spectroscopic studies using the high vibrational level ultracold molecules are also discussed. ^
We report on the state-selective detection of near-dissociation ultracold KRb molecules in the ground $X\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ state and the metastable $a\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ state. The molecules are produced by photoassociation of ultracold atoms followed by radiative decay into high vibrational levels of the XXX and aaa states. Detection utilizes resonance-enhanced one-color two-photon ionization, followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Scanning the detection laser frequency over the range 582−−625nm582--625\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}582−−625nm, we observe transitions from the ${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=86--92$ levels of the XXX state, which are bound by up to $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, and the ${v}^{\ensuremath{''}}=17--23$ levels of the aaa state, which are also bound by up to $30\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The measured vibrational spacings are in excellent agreement with those previously measured and those calculated from the relevant potential curves. Relative vibrational populations are also consistent with Franck-Condon factors for decay from the photoassociated levels.
Ultracold LiCs molecules in the absolute ground state $X^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$, ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$ are formed via a single photoassociation step starting from laser-cooled atoms. The selective production of ${v}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=0$, ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}=2$ molecules with a 50-fold higher rate is also demonstrated. The rotational and vibrational state of the ground state molecules is determined in a setup combining depletion spectroscopy with resonant-enhanced multiphoton ionization time-of-flight spectroscopy. Using the determined production rate of up to $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\text{molecules}}/\mathrm{s}$, we describe a simple scheme which can provide large samples of externally and internally cold dipolar molecules.
We measure the rotational populations of ultracold 85 Rb 133 Cs molecules in the lowest vibrational ground state by a depletion spectroscopy and quantify the molecular production rate based on the measurement of single ion signal area. The 85 Rb 133 Cs molecules in the are formed from the short-range molecular state. A home-made external-cavity diode laser is used as the depletion laser to measure the rotational populations of the formed molecules. Based on the determination of single ion signal, the production rates of molecules in the J = 0 and J = 2 rotational levels are derived to be 4800 mole/s and 7200 mole/s, respectively. The resolution and quantification of molecules in rotational states are facilitative for the manipulation of rotational quantum state of ultracold molecules.