Photoassociative Spectroscopy and Formation of Cold Molecules

Year: 2000

Authors: Pillet P., Drag C., Tolra B.L., Comparat D., Fioretti A., Guibal S., Amiot C., Crubellier A., Dulieu O., Masnou-Seeuws F.

Autors Affiliation: Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS II, Bât. 505, 91405 Orsay, France

Abstract: In the molecular photoassociation process, two free cold atoms absorb one photon by a resonant way, to create an excited molecule in a well defined ro-vibrational state. The photoassociative spectroscopy of alkaline dimers yields accurate determinations for the long-range parts of molecular potential curves correlated to the first s + p asymptote. 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 also a promising alternative for the formation of cold ground state molecules. Photoassociation of cold cesium atoms has permitted the first observation of translationally cold ground state molecules. The case of the cesium atom is very favorable because the 0-g and 1u purely long-range states below the dissociation limit 6s1/2 + 6p3/2 present Condon points at intermediate distances. Such configurations offer rather efficient channels for the creation of singlet or triplet ground state Cs2 molecules after spontaneous decay.

Journal/Review: PHYSICA SCRIPTA

Volume: T86      Pages from: 38  to: 45

More Information: Conference: 31st EGAS Conference of the European Group for Atomic Spectroscopy
Location: UNIV PROVENCE, MARSEILLE, FRANCE – Date: JUL 06-09, 1999
KeyWords: ALKALI-METAL DIMER; MAGNETOOPTICAL TRAP; SCATTERING LENGTHS; CS-2 MOLECULES; CESIUM; COLLISIONS
DOI: 10.1238/Physica.Topical.086a00038

Citations: 1
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