Physical Review A

Beam-loss spectroscopy of cold collisions in a bright sodium beam

Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, W. DeGraffenreid, J. Weiner, Eite Tiesinga, Paul S. Julienne

Published Apr 9, 2004• 7 citations

Abstract

We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the ${D}_{1}$ resonance line. The high collimation and brilliance of the atomic beam permits the detection of atomic fluorescence loss resulting from the photoassociation of cold sodium atoms. The results show that even at high PA laser intensities, where strong coupling of the colliding atoms to the optical field might obscure spectral features, vibrational and rotational progressions are surprisingly well resolved. We attribute the conservation of narrow spectral features to the properties of the saturated line shapes and to the unconventional collision energy distribution in one-dimensional (1D) single-beam collisions compared to 3D collisions in a gas cell.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.69.042708

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Polarization-dependent spectra in the photoassociative ionization of cold atoms in a bright sodium beam

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Physical Review AMay 8, 20026 citations

Ultracold photoassociative ionization collisions in an atomic beam: Optical field intensity and polarization dependence of the rate constant

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Physical Review A

Beam-loss spectroscopy of cold collisions in a bright sodium beam

Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, W. DeGraffenreid, J. Weiner, Eite Tiesinga, Paul S. Julienne

Published Apr 9, 2004• 7 citations

Publisher

Abstract

We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the

{D}_{1}

resonance line. The high collimation and brilliance of the atomic beam permits the detection of atomic fluorescence loss resulting from the photoassociation of cold sodium atoms. The results show that even at high PA laser intensities, where strong coupling of the colliding atoms to the optical field might obscure spectral features, vibrational and rotational progressions are surprisingly well resolved. We attribute the conservation of narrow spectral features to the properties of the saturated line shapes and to the unconventional collision energy distribution in one-dimensional (1D) single-beam collisions compared to 3D collisions in a gas cell.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.69.042708

Related papers

Polarization-dependent spectra in the photoassociative ionization of cold atoms in a bright sodium beam

Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, W. DeGraffenreid, J. Weiner

We report measurements of cold photoassociative ionization (PAI) spectra obtained from collisions within a slow, bright Na atomic beam. A high-brightness atom flux, obtained by optical cooling and focusing of the atom beam, permits a high degree of alignment and orientation of binary collisions with respect to the laboratory atom-beam axis. The results reveal features of PAI spectra not accessible in conventional magneto-optical trap studies. We take advantage of this high degree of alignment to selectively excite autoionizing doubly excited states of specific symmetry.We report measurements of cold photoassociative ionization (PAI) spectra obtained from collisions within a slow, bright Na atomic beam. A high-brightness atom flux, obtained by optical cooling and focusing of the atom beam, permits a high degree of alignment and orientation of binary collisions with respect to the laboratory atom-beam axis. The results reveal features of PAI spectra not accessible in conventional magneto-optical trap studies. We take advantage of this high degree of alignment to selectively excite autoionizing doubly excited states of specific symmetry.

Physical Review AMay 8, 20026 citations

Ultracold photoassociative ionization collisions in an atomic beam: Optical field intensity and polarization dependence of the rate constant

Chun-Cheng Tsao, Reginaldo de Jesus Napolitano, Yang Wang +1 more

We report here measurements of two-body photoassociative ionization collisions between sodium atoms within an ultranarrow velocity class selected from a well-collimated, thermal atomic beam. Doppler-shifted excitation of the Na(3s ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ ;F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(5p ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$ ) transition at 285 nm by a single-mode laser defines the narrow velocity class that subsequently populates the F=2 hyperfine level of the Na ground state by optical pumping. Probe laser beam excitation tuned near the Na(3s ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$ ;F=2)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(3p ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$ ${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$ ;F=3) transition produced photoassociative ionization with an average collision energy ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}$ corresponding to a temperature of 5.3 mK ( ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}$ =3/2kT). We determine the rate constant for the process as a function of probe beam intensity and polarization.We report here measurements of two-body photoassociative ionization collisions between sodium atoms within an ultranarrow velocity class selected from a well-collimated, thermal atomic beam. Doppler-shifted excitation of the Na(3s${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$;F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(5p${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$) transition at 285 nm by a single-mode laser defines the narrow velocity class that subsequently populates the F=2 hyperfine level of the Na ground state by optical pumping. Probe laser beam excitation tuned near the Na(3s${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{S}}_{1/2}$;F=2)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(3p${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\mathit{P}}_{3/2}$;F=3) transition produced photoassociative ionization with an average collision energy ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}$ corresponding to a temperature of 5.3 mK (${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}$=3/2kT). We determine the rate constant for the process as a function of probe beam intensity and polarization.

Physical Review AJan 1, 199511 citations

Anisotropy of optical suppression in photoassociative ionization collisions\nwithin a slow, collimated sodium atom beam

C.-C. Tsao, Y. Wang, R. Napolitano +1 more

\n We report the observation of polarization anisotropy in the optical\nsuppression of photoassociative ionization (PAI) collisions. Binary\ncollisions occur within a tightly collimated and optically cooled velocity\ngroup of a single sodium beam. A laser beam, blue-detuned with respect to\nthe atomic resonance transition, crosses the atomic beam and suppresses the\nPAI rate. We measure this suppression as a function of intensity and\nelectric field vector aligned parallel or perpendicular to the atomic beam\naxis. Quantum close-coupling and multichannel curve-crossing calculations of\nmodel systems yield insight into the nature of the anisotropy and are in\nreasonable agreement with the measurements.\n\n \n\n We report the observation of polarization anisotropy in the optical\nsuppression of photoassociative ionization (PAI) collisions. Binary\ncollisions occur within a tightly collimated and optically cooled velocity\ngroup of a single sodium beam. A laser beam, blue-detuned with respect to\nthe atomic resonance transition, crosses the atomic beam and suppresses the\nPAI rate. We measure this suppression as a function of intensity and\nelectric field vector aligned parallel or perpendicular to the atomic beam\naxis. Quantum close-coupling and multichannel curve-crossing calculations of\nmodel systems yield insight into the nature of the anisotropy and are in\nreasonable agreement with the measurements.\n\n \n

Jul 12, 20130 citations

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

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Chinese Physics LettersJul 1, 20134 citations

Continuous, dense, highly collimated sodium beam

W. DeGraffenreid, Jaime Ramirez-Serrano, Y.-M. Liu +1 more

We have developed a slow, highly collimated, and bright sodium atom beam suitable for orientation and alignment studies in cold collisions. A combination of transverse-optical collimation, longitudinal cooling, rapid decoupling from the longitudinal cooling cycle, and a final “optical-force extrusion” stage produces an atom density of 1×1010 cm−3 within a beam-divergence solid angle of 2×10−6 sr. Rapid Zeeman-cooler decoupling results in a narrow laboratory velocity distribution of 5 m/s full width at half maximum and a cold binary intrabeam collision temperature of 4 mK.We have developed a slow, highly collimated, and bright sodium atom beam suitable for orientation and alignment studies in cold collisions. A combination of transverse-optical collimation, longitudinal cooling, rapid decoupling from the longitudinal cooling cycle, and a final “optical-force extrusion” stage produces an atom density of 1×1010 cm−3 within a beam-divergence solid angle of 2×10−6 sr. Rapid Zeeman-cooler decoupling results in a narrow laboratory velocity distribution of 5 m/s full width at half maximum and a cold binary intrabeam collision temperature of 4 mK.

Review of Scientific InstrumentsOct 1, 200017 citations

Photoassociation spectroscopy of lattice-trapped Yb171 atoms near the S01−P13 (f=1/2) intercombination line

Changyue Sun, Di Ai, Taoyun Jin +4 more

We report on the photoassociation (PA) spectroscopy of cold $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The PA spectral lines correlating to the $^{1}S_{0}+^{3}P_{1}$ $(f=1/2)$ state are observed experimentally. High accuracy and narrow atom-loss spectra are measured ranging up to about 1.2 GHz red detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. The main systematic frequency shifts of the PA transitions are determined with total uncertainties less than 100 kHz, which is more accurate than previous similar experimental results. We determine the initial scattering state of the PA spectra by comparing the spectra with polarized and unpolarized atomic samples. By comparatively analyzing theoretical results calculated based on an adiabatic molecular potential with experimental data, the excited molecular potentials corresponding to the spectral lines are clarified. The precision measurement of the narrow PA spectra plays an important role in exploring atomic interactions and lays the groundwork for the study of cold ytterbium molecules.We report on the photoassociation (PA) spectroscopy of cold $^{171}\mathrm{Yb}$ atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The PA spectral lines correlating to the $^{1}S_{0}+^{3}P_{1}$ $(f=1/2)$ state are observed experimentally. High accuracy and narrow atom-loss spectra are measured ranging up to about 1.2 GHz red detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. The main systematic frequency shifts of the PA transitions are determined with total uncertainties less than 100 kHz, which is more accurate than previous similar experimental results. We determine the initial scattering state of the PA spectra by comparing the spectra with polarized and unpolarized atomic samples. By comparatively analyzing theoretical results calculated based on an adiabatic molecular potential with experimental data, the excited molecular potentials corresponding to the spectral lines are clarified. The precision measurement of the narrow PA spectra plays an important role in exploring atomic interactions and lays the groundwork for the study of cold ytterbium molecules.

Physical Review AFeb 22, 20240 citations

We report beam-loss photoassociation (PA) spectra of cold collisions within a slow, bright Na atom beam near the

{D}_{1}

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}

;F=1)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(5p

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{\mathit{P}}_{3/2}

) transition at 285 nm by a single-mode laser defines the narrow velocity class that subsequently populates the F=2 hyperfine level of the Na ground state by optical pumping. Probe laser beam excitation tuned near the Na(3s

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{\mathit{S}}_{1/2}

;F=2)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Na(3p

{\mathrm{}}^{2}

{\mathit{P}}_{3/2}

;F=3) transition produced photoassociative ionization with an average collision energy

{\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}

corresponding to a temperature of 5.3 mK (

{\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{K}}

=3/2kT). We determine the rate constant for the process as a function of probe beam intensity and polarization.

We report on the photoassociation (PA) spectroscopy of cold

^{171}\mathrm{Yb}

atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. The PA spectral lines correlating to the

^{1}S_{0}+^{3}P_{1}

(f=1/2)

state are observed experimentally. High accuracy and narrow atom-loss spectra are measured ranging up to about 1.2 GHz red detuning with respect to the atomic resonance. The main systematic frequency shifts of the PA transitions are determined with total uncertainties less than 100 kHz, which is more accurate than previous similar experimental results. We determine the initial scattering state of the PA spectra by comparing the spectra with polarized and unpolarized atomic samples. By comparatively analyzing theoretical results calculated based on an adiabatic molecular potential with experimental data, the excited molecular potentials corresponding to the spectral lines are clarified. The precision measurement of the narrow PA spectra plays an important role in exploring atomic interactions and lays the groundwork for the study of cold ytterbium molecules.