title: Ultracold RbSr molecules can be formed by magnetoassociation.
abstract: We investigate the interactions between ultracold alkali-metal atoms and closed-shell atoms using electronic structure calculations on the prototype system Rb+Sr. There are molecular bound states that can be tuned across atomic thresholds with a magnetic field and previously neglected terms in the collision Hamiltonian that can produce zero-energy Feshbach resonances with significant widths. The largest effect comes from the interaction-induced variation of the Rb hyperfine coupling. The resonances may be used to form paramagnetic polar molecules if the magnetic field can be controlled precisely enough.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
authors.forename: Piotr S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Zuchowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aldegunde
authors.forename: Jeremy M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hutson