Formation of cold ground Cs 2 molecules through stimulated Raman photoassociation

D. Comparat, Cyril Drag, B. Laburthe-Tolra +5 more

B. Laburthe-Tolra, Cyril Drag, P. Pillet

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.

B. Laburthe-Tolra, Cyril Drag, Salah Boussen +8 more

A. Fioretti

We report on the formation of translationally cold Cs2 ground-state molecules through photoassociation of laser-cooled cesium atoms in a magneto-optical trap. The cold molecules are obtained after spontaneous decay of photoassociated molecules, and detected after pulsed-laser photoionization into Cs2+ ions. Photoassociation spectra of cesium attractive molecular states below the 6S1/2+6P3/2 dissociation limits are reported, obtained with both ion detection and trap-loss method. A temperature as low as 20−5+15 has been measured for the molecular cloud.

Bing-Kuan Lyu, Jing Lun Li, Meng Wang +2 more

P. Pillet

Summary form only given. In contrast to atoms, laser cooling of molecules is very difficult because of the lack of a closed two-level scheme for recycling the population. The molecular photoassociation of cold atoms opens a promising alternative for the formation of cold molecules. The photoassociative spectra are obtained by the usual trap-loss method as well as by pulsed laser photoionization of Cs/sub 2/ molecules into Cs/sub 2//sup +/ ions. Different schemes to obtain formation of cold molecules through photoassociation will be discussed.