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Photoassociative Production and Trapping of Ultracold KRb Molecules

D. Wang·J. Qi·M. F. Stone·O. Nikolayeva·H. Wang·B. Hattaway·S. D. Gensemer·P. L. Gould·E. E. Eyler·W. C. Stwalley
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Abstract

We have produced ultracold heteronuclear KRb molecules by the process of photoassociation in a two-species magneto-optical trap. Following decay of the photoassociated KRb*, the molecules are detected using two-photon ionization and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy of KRb$^+$. A portion of the metastable triplet molecules thus formed are magnetically trapped. Photoassociative spectra down to 91 cm$^{-1}$ below the K(4$s$) + Rb (5$p_{1/2}$) asymptote have been obtained. We have made assignments to all eight of the attractive Hund's case (c) KRb* potential curves in this spectral region.

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D. Wang, J. Qi, M. F. Stone, O. Nikolayeva, H. Wang, B. Hattaway, S. D. Gensemer, P. L. Gould, E. E. Eyler, W. C. Stwalley. 2004-10-22. Photoassociative Production and Trapping of Ultracold KRb Molecules. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.93.243005

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