A pump-probe study of the photoassociation of cold rubidium molecules.
The dynamics of the excited state during the photoassociation of cold molecules from cold rubidium atoms is studied in a series of pump-probe experiments. Dipole transitions similar to those of the atoms are observed in the molecular signal. While such behaviour is characteristic of the long-range molecules, the photoassociation of bound molecules is confirmed in additional experiments. The pump-probe signal observed on a 250 ps time scale did not, however, reveal wavepacket oscillations predicted by theory. This result is discussed using numerical simulations of photoassociation and a modification to the current experiments that could lead to the detection of wavepacket dynamics is suggested.
Clarendon Laboratory, Parks Road, Oxford, UK OX1 3PU. j.petrovic1@physics.ox.ac.uk
Jovana
J
Petrovic
David
D
McCabe
Duncan
D
England
Hugo
H
Martay
Melissa
M
Friedman
Alexander
A
Dicks
Emiliya
E
Dimova
Ian
I
Walmsley