Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Acta Physica Sinica

Experimental investigation on ionized ultracold molecules formed in a magneto-optical trap by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy

Yuan Jin-Peng, Ji Zhong-Hua, Yan Yang, Zhang Hong-Shan, Zhao Yan-Ting, Jie Ma, Wang Li-Rong, Liantuan Xiao, Jia Suo-Tang

Published Jan 1, 2012• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We use time-of-flight mass spectroscopy to detect the ultracold ground state Cs2 molecules formed directly by a photoassociation due to the trapping laser beams and repumping laser beam in a magneto-optical trap. We investigate the dependences of the Cs2+ intensity on operating voltage of micro-channel-plate, accelerating field intensity and duration time of the accelerating field. The experimental results are consistent with theoretical fitting. We obtain the best optimal parameters suited to our experimental condition, which is important for the future experiment on ultracold molecule photoassociation and photoionization spectroscopy.

DOI
10.7498/aps.61.183301

Related papers

Ionization Detection of Ultracold Ground State Cesium Molecules

Ji Zhong-Hua, Jizhou Wu, Jie Ma +6 more

Photoassociation of ultracold atoms is an important method for producing stable ultracold molecules with extensive applications. Ion spectroscopy technique, which has higher sensitivity compared with trap loss spectroscopy and fragment spectroscopy, plays an important pole in the research of photoassociation spectroscopy. Based on ion spectroscopy technique, a complete experimental system is employed to produce and detect the ultracold ground state molecules, including the equipment of photoionization and time-of-fight mass spectroscopy. Ultra-cold ground state cesium molecules are demonstrated by the ionization detection technique. The number of the ground-state molecules produced in our MOT is measured. In addition, the relationship of the time interval of the cesium atom ion and the cesium molecular ion to the metal grid voltage is studied for the optimization of the experimental parameters.

Chinese Physics Letters•May 1, 2010•0 citations

Translationally cold Cs[sub 2] molecules formation in a magneto-optical trap

A. Fioretti, D. Comparat, Cyril Drag +5 more

We report on the observation of translationally cold Cs2 molecules at temperatures in the 300–70 μK range, produced by the photoassociation of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap. The detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of Cs2 molecules into Cs2+ ions, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This technique, together with the usual trap-loss method, enables us to perform the spectroscopy of the long-range attractive molecular states below the 6s 2S1/2+6p 2P3/2 dissociation limit.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 1998•0 citations

Cold cesium molecules produced directly in a magneto—optical trap

Hongshan Zhang, Zhonghua Ji, Jinpeng Yuan +5 more

We report on the observation of ultracold ground electric-state cesium molecules produced directly in a magneto—optical trap with a good signal-to-noise ratio. These molecules arise from the photoassociation of magneto—optical trap lasers and they are detected by resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization technology. The production rate of ultracold cesium molecules is up to 4×10 4 s −1 . We measure the characteristic time of the ground electric-state cesium molecules generated in the experiment and investigate the Cs 2 + molecular ion intensity as a function of the trapping laser intensity and the ionization pulse laser energy. We conclude that the production of cold cesium molecules may be enhanced by using appropriate experimental parameters, which is useful for future experiments involving the production and trapping of ultracold ground electric-state molecules.

Chinese Physics B•Dec 1, 2011•12 citations

Formation of Cold Cs2 Molecules through Photoassociation

A. Fioretti, D. Comparat, A. Crubellier +3 more

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

Physical Review Letters•May 18, 1998•545 citations

Observation of Ultracold Ground-State Potassium Molecules

Anguel Nikolov, Edward E. Eyler, X. T. Wang +4 more

Ultracold potassium molecules are produced in the $X^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ electronic ground state by photoassociation in a magneto-optical trap. They are detected sensitively and selectively by use of two-color resonant ionization, followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We observe deeply bound molecules with $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\cong}36$, at a temperature of about $300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Presently about 1000 molecules/sec are produced, and much higher production rates should be attainable in the future.

Physical Review Letters•Jan 25, 1999•194 citations

Atomic density and light intensity dependences of the Rb2 molecule formation rate constant in a magneto-optical trap

Anderson R. L. Caires, Valter Aragão do Nascimento, D. C. J. Rezende +2 more

In this paper, we report the measurement of molecular formation rate constant of ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}$ directly in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The ground state molecules are detected by two-photon ionization, resonantly enhanced through the intermediate ${a}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{u}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{2}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{g}$ molecular band. We have measured the rate constant as a function of atomic density to conclude that the molecules ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}$ are formed in the MOT by a photoassociation process caused by the trapping laser beams. We also measured the rate constant as a function of the trapping laser intensity. The results here presented are of importance to future experiments involving trapping of cold molecules.

Physical Review A•Apr 8, 2005•25 citations
We use time-of-flight mass spectroscopy to detect the ultracold ground state Cs2 molecules formed directly by a photoassociation due to the trapping laser beams and repumping laser beam in a magneto-optical trap. We investigate the dependences of the Cs2+ intensity on operating voltage of micro-channel-plate, accelerating field intensity and duration time of the accelerating field. The experimental results are consistent with theoretical fitting. We obtain the best optimal parameters suited to our experimental condition, which is important for the future experiment on ultracold molecule photoassociation and photoionization spectroscopy.
Photoassociation of ultracold atoms is an important method for producing stable ultracold molecules with extensive applications. Ion spectroscopy technique, which has higher sensitivity compared with trap loss spectroscopy and fragment spectroscopy, plays an important pole in the research of photoassociation spectroscopy. Based on ion spectroscopy technique, a complete experimental system is employed to produce and detect the ultracold ground state molecules, including the equipment of photoionization and time-of-fight mass spectroscopy. Ultra-cold ground state cesium molecules are demonstrated by the ionization detection technique. The number of the ground-state molecules produced in our MOT is measured. In addition, the relationship of the time interval of the cesium atom ion and the cesium molecular ion to the metal grid voltage is studied for the optimization of the experimental parameters.
We report on the observation of translationally cold Cs2 molecules at temperatures in the 300–70 μK range, produced by the photoassociation of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magneto-optical trap. The detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of Cs2 molecules into Cs2+ ions, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. This technique, together with the usual trap-loss method, enables us to perform the spectroscopy of the long-range attractive molecular states below the 6s 2S1/2+6p 2P3/2 dissociation limit.
We report on the observation of ultracold ground electric-state cesium molecules produced directly in a magneto—optical trap with a good signal-to-noise ratio. These molecules arise from the photoassociation of magneto—optical trap lasers and they are detected by resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization technology. The production rate of ultracold cesium molecules is up to 4×10 4 s −1 . We measure the characteristic time of the ground electric-state cesium molecules generated in the experiment and investigate the Cs 2 + molecular ion intensity as a function of the trapping laser intensity and the ionization pulse laser energy. We conclude that the production of cold cesium molecules may be enhanced by using appropriate experimental parameters, which is useful for future experiments involving the production and trapping of ultracold ground electric-state molecules.
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 6s2S1/2+6p2P3/26s^{2}S_{1/2}+6p^{2}P_{3/2}6s2S1/2​+6p2P3/2​. Our detection method is based on pulsed-laser photoionization of Cs2{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}Cs2​ molecules, selectively detected through a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Temporal and spatial analysis of Cs2+{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}^{+}Cs2+​ ions show for the first time the formation of translationally cold Cs2{\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}Cs2​ triplet ground state molecules, at a temperature $T\ensuremath{\sim}300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$.
Ultracold potassium molecules are produced in the $X^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}^{+}$ electronic ground state by photoassociation in a magneto-optical trap. They are detected sensitively and selectively by use of two-color resonant ionization, followed by time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. We observe deeply bound molecules with $\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\cong}36$, at a temperature of about $300\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{K}$. Presently about 1000 molecules/sec are produced, and much higher production rates should be attainable in the future.
In this paper, we report the measurement of molecular formation rate constant of Rb2{\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}Rb2​ directly in a magneto-optical trap (MOT). The ground state molecules are detected by two-photon ionization, resonantly enhanced through the intermediate ${a}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{u}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{2}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{g}$ molecular band. We have measured the rate constant as a function of atomic density to conclude that the molecules Rb2{\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}Rb2​ are formed in the MOT by a photoassociation process caused by the trapping laser beams. We also measured the rate constant as a function of the trapping laser intensity. The results here presented are of importance to future experiments involving trapping of cold molecules.