Physical Review Letters

Formation of Cold Cs2 Molecules through Photoassociation

A. Fioretti, D. Comparat, A. Crubellier, Olivier Dulieu, Françoise Masnou-Seeuws, P. Pillet

Published May 18, 1998• 545 citations

Abstract

We have performed photoassociative spectroscopy of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap, within $10{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ below the dissociation limit $6s^{2}S_{1/2}+6p^{2}P_{3/2}$. Our detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$ molecules, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Temporal and spatial analysis of ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}^{+}$ ions show for the first time the formation of translationally cold ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$ triplet ground state molecules, at a temperature $T\ensuremath{\sim}300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.80.4402

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Physical Review Letters

Formation of Cold Cs2 Molecules through Photoassociation

A. Fioretti, D. Comparat, A. Crubellier, Olivier Dulieu, Françoise Masnou-Seeuws, P. Pillet

Published May 18, 1998• 545 citations

Publisher

Abstract

We have performed photoassociative spectroscopy of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap, within

10{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}

below the dissociation limit

6s^{2}S_{1/2}+6p^{2}P_{3/2}

. Our detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}

molecules, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Temporal and spatial analysis of

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}^{+}

ions show for the first time the formation of translationally cold

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}

triplet ground state molecules, at a temperature

T\ensuremath{\sim}300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.80.4402

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We demonstrate the formation of cold ground-state ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$ molecules (presumably in a single well-defined rovibrational level) by stimulated Raman photoassociation (PA) in a Cs vapor cell magneto-optical trap. Autler-Townes measurements allow us to precisely define the experimental conditions. The efficiency of the process is comparable to that of the formation of cold molecules obtained after spontaneous deexcitation of photoassociated molecules. Stimulated Raman PA should provide samples where the molecules are cold not only translationally, but are also in a selected rovibrational level.We demonstrate the formation of cold ground-state ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}$ molecules (presumably in a single well-defined rovibrational level) by stimulated Raman photoassociation (PA) in a Cs vapor cell magneto-optical trap. Autler-Townes measurements allow us to precisely define the experimental conditions. The efficiency of the process is comparable to that of the formation of cold molecules obtained after spontaneous deexcitation of photoassociated molecules. Stimulated Raman PA should provide samples where the molecules are cold not only translationally, but are also in a selected rovibrational level.

Physical Review ANov 9, 200151 citations

We have performed photoassociative spectroscopy of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap, within

10{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}

below the dissociation limit

6s^{2}S_{1/2}+6p^{2}P_{3/2}

. Our detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}

molecules, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Temporal and spatial analysis of

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}^{+}

ions show for the first time the formation of translationally cold

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}

triplet ground state molecules, at a temperature

T\ensuremath{\sim}300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}

PHOTOASSOCIATIVE SPECTROSCOPY OF

Cs_{2}

MOLECULE

We report the spectroscopy of molecular

1_{g}, 0^{+}_{u}, 0^{-}_{g}

and

1_{u}

state potentials below the dissociattion limit

6s^{2}S_{1/2}+6p^{2}P_{3/2}

by using the molecular photoassociation technique of cold Cs atoms, in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap. The

1_{g}

and

0^{+}_{g}

states are detected by trap losses. The

0^{-}_{g}

and

1_{u}

states, which lead to the formation of cold molecules [1], are detected by photoionizing them into

Cs_{2}^{+}

and detecting with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer, while the

l_{g}

and

0^{+}_{u}

states are detected by trap losses. We give the spectra of the whole series

0^{-}_{g}

and

1_{u}

. The

0^{-}_{g}

series is analyzed in a RKR approach and the hyperfine structure of the

1_{u}

series will be discussed. The observed modulation of intensities of the lines is due to Franck Condon factors characterizing the photoassociative transition between the initial state of two free atoms and the finalro-vibrational level. The intensity modulation can give access to the scattering lengths of the ground state. This possibility will be discussed.

We demonstrate the formation of cold ground-state

{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}

molecules (presumably in a single well-defined rovibrational level) by stimulated Raman photoassociation (PA) in a Cs vapor cell magneto-optical trap. Autler-Townes measurements allow us to precisely define the experimental conditions. The efficiency of the process is comparable to that of the formation of cold molecules obtained after spontaneous deexcitation of photoassociated molecules. Stimulated Raman PA should provide samples where the molecules are cold not only translationally, but are also in a selected rovibrational level.