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

Formation of a Bose condensate of stable molecules via a Feshbach resonance

S. J. J. M. F. Kokkelmans, H. M. J. Vissers, BOUDEWIJN J. VERHAAR

Published Feb 6, 2001• 76 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose and analyze an approach to convert an atomic condensate into a condensate of diatomic molecules in the rovibrational ground state. The process consists of a stimulated Raman transition dramatically enhanced by a time-dependent magnetic field that sweeps over a field-induced Feshbach resonance. For Na atoms the Raman transition probability is enhanced by seven orders of magnitude, leading to a conversion efficiency of up to 20%. The resulting condensate is expected to be as stable as the present atomic condensates. The approach shows promise as a more general process for Feshbach engineering molecular condensates from condensates of the constituent atoms/molecules.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.63.031601

Related papers

Feshbach-stimulated photoproduction of a stable molecular Bose-Einstein condensate

Matt Mackie

Photoassociation and the Feshbach resonance are, in principle, feasible means for creating a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate from an already-quantum-degenerate gas of atoms; however, mean-field shifts and irreversible decay place practical constraints on the efficient delivery of stable molecules using either mechanism alone. We therefore propose Feshbach-stimulated Raman photoproduction, i.e., a combination of magnetic and optical methods, as a means to collectively convert degenerate atoms into a stable molecular condensate with near-unit efficiency.

arXiv:physics/0202041•Physical Review A•Oct 23, 2002•41 citations

Formation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate and an entangled atomic gas by Feshbach resonance

Vladimir Yurovsky, A. Ben‐Reuven

Association in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, and dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to a Feshbach resonance in a time-dependent magnetic field, are analyzed incorporating non-mean-field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long-lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 100 ms and more). Entangled atoms in two-mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) may also be formed by molecular dissociation.

arXiv:cond-mat/0205267•Physical Review A•Apr 23, 2003•50 citations

Density-optimized efficiency for magneto-optical production of a stable molecular Bose–Einstein condensate

Matt Mackie, Anssi Collin, Kalle‐Antti Suominen +1 more

Although photoassociation and the Feshbach resonance are feasible means in principle for creating a molecular Bose–Einstein condensate (MBEC) from an already quantum-degenerate gas of atoms, collision-induced mean-field shifts and irreversible decay place practical constraints on the efficient Raman delivery of stable molecules. Focusing on stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, we propose that the efficiency of both mechanisms for producing a stable MBEC can be improved by treating the density of the initial atom condensate as an optimization parameter.

New Journal of Physics•Aug 29, 2003•4 citations

Creating a Stable Molecular Condensate Using a Generalized Raman Adiabatic Passage Scheme

Hong Yuan Ling, Han Pu, Brian Seaman

We study the Feshbach resonance assisted stimulated adiabatic passage of an effective coupling field for creating stable molecules from an atomic Bose condensate. By exploring the properties of the coherent population trapping state, we show that, contrary to the previous belief, mean-field shifts need not limit the conversion efficiency as long as one chooses an adiabatic passage route that compensates the collision mean-field phase shifts and avoids the dynamical unstable regime.

arXiv:cond-mat/0411281•Physical Review Letters•Dec 15, 2004•103 citations

Efficient formation of ground-state ultracold molecules via STIRAP from the continuum at a Feshbach resonance

Elena Kuznetsova, Marko Gacesa, Philippe Pellegrini +2 more

We develop a theoretical description of photoassociative stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) near a Feshbach resonance in a thermal atomic gas. We show that it is possible to use low-intensity laser pulses to directly excite pairs of atoms in the continuum near a Feshbach resonance and to transfer most of the atomic cloud to the lowest rovibrational level of the molecular ground state. For a broad resonance, commonly found in several mixtures of alkali atoms, our model predicts a transfer efficiency up to 97% for a given atom pair, and up to 70% when averaged over an atomic ensemble. The laser intensities and pulse durations needed for such an optimal transfer, 10 2 –10 3 W cm −2 and several microseconds, are easily achievable experimentally. A single pair of STIRAP pulses converts an estimated fraction f ∼10 −6 –10 −4 of atoms in an atomic ensemble, leading to the production of 10–1000 molecules in a large sample of 10 7 atoms. A total of ∼10 4 –10 6 pulse pairs are thus required to transfer most atoms into molecules. Such an efficiency compares with or surpasses currently available techniques for creating stable diatomic molecules, and the versatility of this approach simplifies its potential use for many molecular species.

arXiv:0812.3088•New Journal of Physics•May 14, 2009•48 citations

Formation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate and an entangled atomic gas by time-dependent Feshbach resonance

Vladimir Yurovsky

Association in an atomic Bose‐Einstein condensate, and the subsequent dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to Feshbach resonance in a time‐dependent magnetic field, are analyzed, incorporating non‐mean‐field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long‐lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 10 ms and longer), if the magnetic field is temporally changed one way. Entangled atoms in two‐mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) are formed by molecular dissociation when the field is changed the other way.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2002•0 citations
We propose and analyze an approach to convert an atomic condensate into a condensate of diatomic molecules in the rovibrational ground state. The process consists of a stimulated Raman transition dramatically enhanced by a time-dependent magnetic field that sweeps over a field-induced Feshbach resonance. For Na atoms the Raman transition probability is enhanced by seven orders of magnitude, leading to a conversion efficiency of up to 20%. The resulting condensate is expected to be as stable as the present atomic condensates. The approach shows promise as a more general process for Feshbach engineering molecular condensates from condensates of the constituent atoms/molecules.
Photoassociation and the Feshbach resonance are, in principle, feasible means for creating a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate from an already-quantum-degenerate gas of atoms; however, mean-field shifts and irreversible decay place practical constraints on the efficient delivery of stable molecules using either mechanism alone. We therefore propose Feshbach-stimulated Raman photoproduction, i.e., a combination of magnetic and optical methods, as a means to collectively convert degenerate atoms into a stable molecular condensate with near-unit efficiency.
Association in an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate, and dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to a Feshbach resonance in a time-dependent magnetic field, are analyzed incorporating non-mean-field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long-lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 100 ms and more). Entangled atoms in two-mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) may also be formed by molecular dissociation.
Although photoassociation and the Feshbach resonance are feasible means in principle for creating a molecular Bose–Einstein condensate (MBEC) from an already quantum-degenerate gas of atoms, collision-induced mean-field shifts and irreversible decay place practical constraints on the efficient Raman delivery of stable molecules. Focusing on stimulated Raman adiabatic passage, we propose that the efficiency of both mechanisms for producing a stable MBEC can be improved by treating the density of the initial atom condensate as an optimization parameter.
We develop a theoretical description of photoassociative stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) near a Feshbach resonance in a thermal atomic gas. We show that it is possible to use low-intensity laser pulses to directly excite pairs of atoms in the continuum near a Feshbach resonance and to transfer most of the atomic cloud to the lowest rovibrational level of the molecular ground state. For a broad resonance, commonly found in several mixtures of alkali atoms, our model predicts a transfer efficiency up to 97% for a given atom pair, and up to 70% when averaged over an atomic ensemble. The laser intensities and pulse durations needed for such an optimal transfer, 10 2 –10 3 W cm −2 and several microseconds, are easily achievable experimentally. A single pair of STIRAP pulses converts an estimated fraction f ∼10 −6 –10 −4 of atoms in an atomic ensemble, leading to the production of 10–1000 molecules in a large sample of 10 7 atoms. A total of ∼10 4 –10 6 pulse pairs are thus required to transfer most atoms into molecules. Such an efficiency compares with or surpasses currently available techniques for creating stable diatomic molecules, and the versatility of this approach simplifies its potential use for many molecular species.
Association in an atomic Bose‐Einstein condensate, and the subsequent dissociation of the resulting molecular condensate, due to Feshbach resonance in a time‐dependent magnetic field, are analyzed, incorporating non‐mean‐field quantum corrections and inelastic collisions. Calculations for the Na atomic condensate demonstrate that there exist optimal conditions under which about 80% of the atomic population can be converted to a relatively long‐lived molecular condensate (with lifetimes of 10 ms and longer), if the magnetic field is temporally changed one way. Entangled atoms in two‐mode squeezed states (with noise reduction of about 30 dB) are formed by molecular dissociation when the field is changed the other way.