arXiv.org: Rotating molecules in optical lattices, alignment and monopole crystals

The recent progress towards production of near-ground state quantum-degenerate molecules raises the issue of how such "small" molecules behave in an optical lattice. In this Letter we show that the coupling of the molecular orientation to the local electric field direction will provide severalnew phenomena. In the case where the lasers forming different crystallographic directions of the lattice are incoherent, the orientation of the molecules is conserved (for L = 1) and a novel form of anisotropic superfluidity can be expected. When the lasers are coherent, and the optical lattice is such that the splitting of the rotational levels is large compared to the centre of mass energies,an adiabaic description of the molecular orientation is appropriate. This leads to geometric vector potentials, pseudo-magnetic monopoles and a frustrated band structure with degenerate minima.The recent progress towards production of near-ground state quantum-degenerate molecules raises the issue of how such "small" molecules behave in an optical lattice. In this Letter we show that the coupling of the molecular orientation to the local electric field direction will provide severalnew phenomena. In the case where the lasers forming different crystallographic directions of the lattice are incoherent, the orientation of the molecules is conserved (for L = 1) and a novel form of anisotropic superfluidity can be expected. When the lasers are coherent, and the optical lattice is such that the splitting of the rotational levels is large compared to the centre of mass energies,an adiabaic description of the molecular orientation is appropriate. This leads to geometric vector potentials, pseudo-magnetic monopoles and a frustrated band structure with degenerate minima.

arXiv:0707.0985Jul 6, 20070 citations

Single particle to many-body physics in rotating optical lattices

Mehmet Özgür Oktel

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 16, 20100 citations

Probing the Axis Alignment of an Ultracold Spin-polarized Rb2 Molecule

Markus Deiß, Björn Drews, Benjamin Deissler +1 more

We present a novel method for probing the alignment of the molecular axis of an ultracold, nonpolar dimer. These results are obtained using diatomic ^{87}Rb_{2} molecules in the vibrational ground state of the lowest triplet potential a^{3}Σ_{u}^{+} trapped in a 3D optical lattice. We measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the x, y, and z directions of the lab coordinate system. By preparing the molecules in various, precisely defined rotational quantum states we can control the degree of alignment of the molecular axis with high precision over a large range. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer, α_{∥}=(8.9±0.9)×10^{3} a.u. and α_{⊥}=(0.9±0.4)×10^{3} a.u., respectively. Our findings highlight that the depth of an optical lattice strongly depends on the rotational state of the molecule, which has to be considered in collision experiments. The present work paves the way for reaction studies between aligned molecules in the ultracold temperature regime.We present a novel method for probing the alignment of the molecular axis of an ultracold, nonpolar dimer. These results are obtained using diatomic ^{87}Rb_{2} molecules in the vibrational ground state of the lowest triplet potential a^{3}Σ_{u}^{+} trapped in a 3D optical lattice. We measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the x, y, and z directions of the lab coordinate system. By preparing the molecules in various, precisely defined rotational quantum states we can control the degree of alignment of the molecular axis with high precision over a large range. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer, α_{∥}=(8.9±0.9)×10^{3} a.u. and α_{⊥}=(0.9±0.4)×10^{3} a.u., respectively. Our findings highlight that the depth of an optical lattice strongly depends on the rotational state of the molecule, which has to be considered in collision experiments. The present work paves the way for reaction studies between aligned molecules in the ultracold temperature regime.

arXiv:1404.1255Physical Review LettersDec 3, 201420 citations

Molecule formation and quantum correlations in optical lattices

Jordi Mur-Petit

Oct 2, 20100 citations

Probing the alignment of ultracold spin-polarized $\textrm{Rb}_2$ moleculesProbing the alignment of ultracold spin-polarized $\textrm{Rb}_2$ molecules

Markus Deiß, Björn Drews, Benjamin Deissler +1 more

We demonstrate a method to probe the alignment of the molecular axis of spin-polarized ultracold dimers. Diatomic $^{87}$ Rb $_2$ molecules are held in the lowest Bloch band of a far-off resonance 3D optical lattice. Using lattice modulation spectroscopy we measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the $x$ -, $y$ -, and $z$ -directions of the lab coordinate system. In contrast to nonrotating molecules, we observe that rotating molecules have an anisotropic orientation of the molecular axis. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer, $\alpha_\parallel=(8.9 \pm 0.9)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}$ and $\alpha_\perp=(0.9 \pm 0.4)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}$ , respectively.We demonstrate a method to probe the alignment of the molecular axis of spin-polarized ultracold dimers. Diatomic $^{87}$Rb$_2$ molecules are held in the lowest Bloch band of a far-off resonance 3D optical lattice. Using lattice modulation spectroscopy we measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the $x$-, $y$-, and $z$-directions of the lab coordinate system. In contrast to nonrotating molecules, we observe that rotating molecules have an anisotropic orientation of the molecular axis. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer, $\alpha_\parallel=(8.9 \pm 0.9)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}$ and $\alpha_\perp=(0.9 \pm 0.4)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}$, respectively.

Apr 4, 20140 citations

Probing the alignment of ultracold spin-polarized

\textrm{Rb}_2

molecules

We demonstrate a method to probe the alignment of the molecular axis of spin-polarized ultracold dimers. Diatomic

^{87}

_2

molecules are held in the lowest Bloch band of a far-off resonance 3D optical lattice. Using lattice modulation spectroscopy we measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the

x

y

-, and

z

-directions of the lab coordinate system. In contrast to nonrotating molecules, we observe that rotating molecules have an anisotropic orientation of the molecular axis. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer,

\alpha_\parallel=(8.9 \pm 0.9)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}

and

\alpha_\perp=(0.9 \pm 0.4)\times10^3\:\textrm{a.u.}

, respectively.