Chinese Physics Letters
Rotational Population Measurement of Ultracold 85 Rb 133 Cs Molecules in the Lowest Vibrational Ground State
Zhonghua Ji, Zhonghao Li, Ting Gong, Yanting Zhao, Liantuan Xiao, Suotang Jia
Abstract
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.