arXiv:physics/0402116 · Physical Review Letters

Production and State-Selective Detection of Ultracold RbCs Molecules

Andrew J. Kerman, Jeremy Sage, Sunil Sainis, Thomas H. Bergeman, David P. DeMille

Published Apr 12, 2004• 192 citations

Abstract

Using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, we detect ultracold, metastable RbCs molecules formed in their lowest triplet state $a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ and $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ atoms. We obtain extensive bound-bound excitation spectra of these molecules, which provide detailed information about their vibrational distribution, as well as spectroscopic data on several RbCs molecular states including $a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$, $(2)\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$, and $(1)\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}$. Analysis of this data allows us to predict strong transitions from observed levels to the absolute vibronic ground state of RbCs, potentially allowing the production of stable, ultracold polar molecules at rates in excess of ${10}^{6}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.92.153001

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arXiv:physics/0402116 · Physical Review Letters

Production and State-Selective Detection of Ultracold RbCs Molecules

Andrew J. Kerman, Jeremy Sage, Sunil Sainis, Thomas H. Bergeman, David P. DeMille

Published Apr 12, 2004• 192 citations

arXiv HTML PDF

Abstract

Using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, we detect ultracold, metastable RbCs molecules formed in their lowest triplet state

a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of

^{85}\mathrm{Rb}

and

^{133}\mathrm{Cs}

atoms. We obtain extensive bound-bound excitation spectra of these molecules, which provide detailed information about their vibrational distribution, as well as spectroscopic data on several RbCs molecular states including

a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

(2)\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

, and

(1)\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}

. Analysis of this data allows us to predict strong transitions from observed levels to the absolute vibronic ground state of RbCs, potentially allowing the production of stable, ultracold polar molecules at rates in excess of

{10}^{6}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.92.153001

Related papers

Production of Ultracold, Polar RbCs* Molecules via Photoassociation

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We have produced ultracold, polar ${\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}$ molecules via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of Rb and Cs atoms. Using a model of the ${\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}$ molecular interaction which reproduces the observed rovibrational structure, we infer decay rates in our experiments into deeply bound $X\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ ground-state RbCs vibrational levels as high as $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ per level. Population in such deeply bound levels could be efficiently transferred to the vibrational ground state using a single stimulated Raman transition, opening the possibility to create large samples of stable, ultracold polar molecules.We have produced ultracold, polar ${\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}$ molecules via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of Rb and Cs atoms. Using a model of the ${\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}$ molecular interaction which reproduces the observed rovibrational structure, we infer decay rates in our experiments into deeply bound $X\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ ground-state RbCs vibrational levels as high as $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ per level. Population in such deeply bound levels could be efficiently transferred to the vibrational ground state using a single stimulated Raman transition, opening the possibility to create large samples of stable, ultracold polar molecules.

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We have investigated photoassociative formation of RbCs molecules in the ${(2)}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ excited state correlated to $v=8$ , $(5){0}^{+}$ vibrational level in detail. The metastable ground-state RbCs molecules formed by spontaneous decay are ionized by pulsed dye laser through resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization. A rate equation of the photoionization process is introduced to explain the dependence of RbCs ${}^{+}$ molecular ion intensity on the ionization laser intensity. The saturation effect of molecular ion intensity appears as the photoassociation laser intensity increases. The rotational constant and centrifugal distortion constant are derived to be 0.01304 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and 0.000015 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from the photoassociation spectrum with a high sensitivity, respectively. The measured electric dipole moment of the observed $(2){\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ state RbCs molecules is 4.7(6) D by Stark effect in static electric field.We have investigated photoassociative formation of RbCs molecules in the ${(2)}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ excited state correlated to $v=8$, $(5){0}^{+}$ vibrational level in detail. The metastable ground-state RbCs molecules formed by spontaneous decay are ionized by pulsed dye laser through resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization. A rate equation of the photoionization process is introduced to explain the dependence of RbCs${}^{+}$ molecular ion intensity on the ionization laser intensity. The saturation effect of molecular ion intensity appears as the photoassociation laser intensity increases. The rotational constant and centrifugal distortion constant are derived to be 0.01304 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and 0.000015 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from the photoassociation spectrum with a high sensitivity, respectively. The measured electric dipole moment of the observed $(2){\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ state RbCs molecules is 4.7(6) D by Stark effect in static electric field.

Physical Review AJan 3, 201237 citations

Using resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, we detect ultracold, metastable RbCs molecules formed in their lowest triplet state

a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of

^{85}\mathrm{Rb}

and

^{133}\mathrm{Cs}

a\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

(2)\text{ }^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}

, and

(1)\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Pi}

{10}^{6}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}

We have produced ultracold, polar

{\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}

molecules via photoassociation in a laser-cooled mixture of Rb and Cs atoms. Using a model of the

{\mathrm{R}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{s}}^{*}

molecular interaction which reproduces the observed rovibrational structure, we infer decay rates in our experiments into deeply bound $X\text{ }^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}^{+}$ ground-state RbCs vibrational levels as high as $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ per level. Population in such deeply bound levels could be efficiently transferred to the vibrational ground state using a single stimulated Raman transition, opening the possibility to create large samples of stable, ultracold polar molecules.

We have investigated photoassociative formation of RbCs molecules in the ${(2)}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ excited state correlated to

v=8

(5){0}^{+}

vibrational level in detail. The metastable ground-state RbCs molecules formed by spontaneous decay are ionized by pulsed dye laser through resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization. A rate equation of the photoionization process is introduced to explain the dependence of RbCs

{}^{+}

molecular ion intensity on the ionization laser intensity. The saturation effect of molecular ion intensity appears as the photoassociation laser intensity increases. The rotational constant and centrifugal distortion constant are derived to be 0.01304 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and 0.000015 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ from the photoassociation spectrum with a high sensitivity, respectively. The measured electric dipole moment of the observed $(2){\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}^{3}\phantom{\rule{-0.16em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\Pi}$ state RbCs molecules is 4.7(6) D by Stark effect in static electric field.