Efficient quantum-state detection is crucial for many precision control experiments, such as the ongoing effort to probe the electron's electric dipole moment using trapped molecular ThF + 232 ions at JILA. While quantum-state detection through state-selective photodissociation has been successfully implemented on this molecule, progress has been hindered by low dissociation efficiency. In this work, we perform spectroscopy on the molecule to identify excited states that facilitate more efficient photodissociation. For the most favorable transition, we achieve a dissociation efficiency of 57(14)% with quantum-state selectivity. Additionally, we discuss several state detection protocols that leverage favorable excited states that will facilitate simultaneous readout of all EDM relevant states, allowing further improvement of overall statistics.Efficient quantum-state detection is crucial for many precision control experiments, such as the ongoing effort to probe the electron's electric dipole moment using trapped molecular ThF + 232 ions at JILA. While quantum-state detection through state-selective photodissociation has been successfully implemented on this molecule, progress has been hindered by low dissociation efficiency. In this work, we perform spectroscopy on the molecule to identify excited states that facilitate more efficient photodissociation. For the most favorable transition, we achieve a dissociation efficiency of 57(14)% with quantum-state selectivity. Additionally, we discuss several state detection protocols that leverage favorable excited states that will facilitate simultaneous readout of all EDM relevant states, allowing further improvement of overall statistics.

arXiv:2508.04949Physical Review ANov 6, 20252 citations

Detection of NaRb Feshbach molecules by photodissociation

Fan Jia, Zhichao Guo, Lintao Li +1 more

We demonstrate detection of NaRb Feshbach molecules at high magnetic field by combining molecular photodissociation and absorption imaging of the photofragments. The photodissociation process is carried out via a spectroscopically selected hyperfine Zeeman level correlated with the Na ( $3{P}_{3/2}$ ) $+$ Rb ( $5{S}_{1/2}$ ) asymptote which, following spontaneous emission and optical pumping, leads to ground-state atoms in a single level with near unity probability. Subsequent to the dissociation, the number of molecules is obtained by detecting the resultant $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ and $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. We have also studied the heating effect caused by the photodissociation process and optimized the detection protocol for extracting the temperature of the molecular cloud. This method enables the $in\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}situ$ detection of fast timescale collision dynamics between NaRb Feshbach molecules and will be a valuable capability in studying few-body physics involving molecules.We demonstrate detection of NaRb Feshbach molecules at high magnetic field by combining molecular photodissociation and absorption imaging of the photofragments. The photodissociation process is carried out via a spectroscopically selected hyperfine Zeeman level correlated with the Na ($3{P}_{3/2}$) $+$ Rb ($5{S}_{1/2}$) asymptote which, following spontaneous emission and optical pumping, leads to ground-state atoms in a single level with near unity probability. Subsequent to the dissociation, the number of molecules is obtained by detecting the resultant $^{23}\mathrm{Na}$ and $^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ atoms. We have also studied the heating effect caused by the photodissociation process and optimized the detection protocol for extracting the temperature of the molecular cloud. This method enables the $in\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}situ$ detection of fast timescale collision dynamics between NaRb Feshbach molecules and will be a valuable capability in studying few-body physics involving molecules.

arXiv:2010.04068Physical Review AOct 28, 20207 citations

3{P}_{3/2}

)

+

Rb (

5{S}_{1/2}

) asymptote which, following spontaneous emission and optical pumping, leads to ground-state atoms in a single level with near unity probability. Subsequent to the dissociation, the number of molecules is obtained by detecting the resultant

^{23}\mathrm{Na}

and

^{87}\mathrm{Rb}

atoms. We have also studied the heating effect caused by the photodissociation process and optimized the detection protocol for extracting the temperature of the molecular cloud. This method enables the

in\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}situ

detection of fast timescale collision dynamics between NaRb Feshbach molecules and will be a valuable capability in studying few-body physics involving molecules.