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

Physica Scripta

Photoassociation of Ultracold Sodium Atoms

Arjen Amelink, P. van der Straten

Published Jan 1, 2003• 10 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Using ultra-cold atoms a new technique of photoassociation spectroscopy has been developed. The technique has an unprecedented resolution and can be used to obtain high-resolution data on singly and doubly excited states of diatomic molecules. We describe the principle of the technique and show results for one specific case, namely the Na 2 molecule.

DOI
10.1238/physica.regular.068ac0082

Related papers

Two-colour photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold sodium

K. M. Jones, S. Maleki, L. P. Ratliff +1 more

We demonstrate a number of two-colour spectroscopy techniques where the first step is the photoassociation of laser-cooled and trapped sodium atoms to form bound states of . High-resolution spectra of are obtained. Spectra of the `purely long-range' state demonstrates the use of two-colour spectroscopy to open up an ionization channel for detecting the occurrence of photoassociation. The utility of photoassociation as a technique for producing cold molecular samples in a well defined rovibrational state is demonstrated with spectra showing and (Condon internal diffraction) transitions after the photoassociation. Starting from states in the and potentials, these transitions include upward transitions to autoionizing potentials dissociating near 3P + 3P and downward transitions back to the 3S + 3S ground-state potentials. Spectroscopic constants for six levels of a doubly excited state of are given.

Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Jan 28, 1997•44 citations

Photoassociative ionization spectroscopy in ultracold sodium

Paul D. Lett, L. P. Ratliff, Mark E. Wagshul +2 more

Recent advances in laser cooling techniques have made possible a new type of spectroscopy. In the first experiments of this kind alkali atoms are laser cooled to temperatures around 1 mK and trapped, using laser fields, at densities around 1011 cm−3. Atoms colliding under such ultracold conditions can be resonantly photoassociated to bound states of the dimer molecules. These molecules can in turn be photoionized, providing a sensitive detection of the photoassociation spectrum and revealing in extremely high resolution the structure of the dimer molecules. The particular advantages of this technique include high resolution and signal‐to‐noise and the ability to reach extremely long range states of the molecule, accessible only through such slow collisions.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1995•1 citation

High-resolution photoassociation spectroscopy

Joseph D. Miller, Robert A. Cline, D. J. Han +1 more

With the ultracold temperatures (T 1012 cm-3) of atoms that can be produced with laser-cooling and trapping techniques, it is now possible to carry out a new kind of high-resolution spectroscopy.1 This photoassociation is based on optical absorption resonances between the initially free states of colliding atoms and specific, bound excited molecular states. High resolution can be obtained because of the narrow energy distribution of the ultracold gas.1 Because the initial states are formed by collisions, it becomes possible to probe unique, excited molecular states with very large interatomic separations that are impossible to probe with conventional molecular spectroscopy. The feasibility of this new spectroscopy has been demonstrated in two recent experiments.2,3

•May 8, 1994•0 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 in ultracold collisions: High resolution spectroscopy from the collision continuum

Paul D. Lett

Research into collisions at ultracold temperatures has revealed new physics and created new spectroscopic techniques. A brief review of ultracold collisions in general and an overview of photoassociation experiments with laser‐cooled Na atoms are given here. These experiments point out some of the interesting and unique features of ultracold collisions and some of the possibilities for their application in high resolution spectroscopy and the manipulation of atomic collisions.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1996•0 citations

Laser-induced photoassociation of ultracold sodium atoms

H. R. Thorsheim, J. Weiner, Paul S. Julienne

We present the theory of laser-induced radiative association in terms of a scattering resonance formalism and apply this theory to the specific case of Na atom collisions at a temperature of 10 mK. Use of ultracold atoms permits a new kind of high-resolution free-bound spectroscopy for the study of near-threshold collisions and excited-state energy levels which are difficult to study by conventional bound state spectroscopy.

Physical Review Letters•Jun 8, 1987•385 citations
Using ultra-cold atoms a new technique of photoassociation spectroscopy has been developed. The technique has an unprecedented resolution and can be used to obtain high-resolution data on singly and doubly excited states of diatomic molecules. We describe the principle of the technique and show results for one specific case, namely the Na 2 molecule.
We demonstrate a number of two-colour spectroscopy techniques where the first step is the photoassociation of laser-cooled and trapped sodium atoms to form bound states of . High-resolution spectra of are obtained. Spectra of the `purely long-range' state demonstrates the use of two-colour spectroscopy to open up an ionization channel for detecting the occurrence of photoassociation. The utility of photoassociation as a technique for producing cold molecular samples in a well defined rovibrational state is demonstrated with spectra showing and (Condon internal diffraction) transitions after the photoassociation. Starting from states in the and potentials, these transitions include upward transitions to autoionizing potentials dissociating near 3P + 3P and downward transitions back to the 3S + 3S ground-state potentials. Spectroscopic constants for six levels of a doubly excited state of are given.
Recent advances in laser cooling techniques have made possible a new type of spectroscopy. In the first experiments of this kind alkali atoms are laser cooled to temperatures around 1 mK and trapped, using laser fields, at densities around 1011 cm−3. Atoms colliding under such ultracold conditions can be resonantly photoassociated to bound states of the dimer molecules. These molecules can in turn be photoionized, providing a sensitive detection of the photoassociation spectrum and revealing in extremely high resolution the structure of the dimer molecules. The particular advantages of this technique include high resolution and signal‐to‐noise and the ability to reach extremely long range states of the molecule, accessible only through such slow collisions.
With the ultracold temperatures (T 1012 cm-3) of atoms that can be produced with laser-cooling and trapping techniques, it is now possible to carry out a new kind of high-resolution spectroscopy.1 This photoassociation is based on optical absorption resonances between the initially free states of colliding atoms and specific, bound excited molecular states. High resolution can be obtained because of the narrow energy distribution of the ultracold gas.1 Because the initial states are formed by collisions, it becomes possible to probe unique, excited molecular states with very large interatomic separations that are impossible to probe with conventional molecular spectroscopy. The feasibility of this new spectroscopy has been demonstrated in two recent experiments.2,3
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.