arXiv subjects

Baraa Shammout

Publications and source records attributed to Baraa Shammout.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Electric-field control of atom-molecule Feshbach resonances

Ultracold molecules provide opportunities for exploring quantum matter, chemical dynamics and information processing thanks to their rich interactions, which can be controlled by external fields. Magnetic fields tune interactions through Feshbach resonances, enabling the formation of ultracold dimers and triatomic molecules from atom-dimer collisions. Here we demonstrate electric-field control of atom-molecule Feshbach resonances. In mixtures of ground-state sodium-potassium molecules and potassium atoms, electric fields shift resonance positions systematically, revealing specific trimer bound states and their electric-field dependent energies. The response differs markedly from isolated dimers, showing hindered rotation of the molecular constituent near an atom. Electric fields therefore add an independent knob for atom-molecule resonances, open spectroscopic access to triatomic quantum states, and advance controlled polyatomic quantum matter.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2025

Optical formation of ultracold NaK$_2$ ground state molecules

We study the rovibronic transitions in NaK$_2$ between its electronic ground state $1^2A'$ and its second excited state $3^2A'$, to identify possible pathways for the creation of ultracold ground-state triatomic molecules. Our methodology relies on the computation of potential energy surfaces and transition dipole moment surfaces for the relevant electronic states using ab initio methods. Rovibrational energy levels and wave functions are determined using the discrete variable representation approach. A double-well structure of the potential energy surface is identified for both states, and the related transition strengths between the rovibrational levels are derived. Our calculations show that the formation of ultracold ground-state NaK$_2$ molecules is expected when starting from an excited electronic state of NaK$_2$, which can be created by photoassociation of NaK and K observed by optical means by Cao et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 2024, 132, 093403).

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2025

Formation of ultracold triatomic molecules by electric microwave association

A theoretical model is proposed for the formation of ultracold ground-state triatomic molecules in weakly bound energy levels. The process is driven by the electric component of a microwave field, which induces the association of an ultracold atom colliding with an ultracold diatomic molecule. This model is exemplified using $^{39}$K atoms and $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K molecules, both in their ground states, a scenario of experimental relevance. The model assumes that the dynamics of the association are dominated by the long-range van der Waals interaction between $^{39}$K and $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K. The electric microwave association mechanism relies on the intrinsic electric dipole moment of $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K, which drives transitions between its lowest rotational levels ( $j$=0 and $j$=1). The energies of the uppermost triatomic energy levels are computed by numerically solving coupled Schrödinger equations using the Mapped Fourier Grid Hamiltonian method. Measurable association rates are derived within the framework of a perturbative approach. This method of electric microwave association provides an alternative to atom-molecule association via magnetic Feshbach resonances for forming ultracold, deeply bound triatomic molecules, and is applicable to a wide range of polar diatomic molecules.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2023

Modeling photoassociative spectra of ultracold NaK+K

A model for photoassociation of ultracold atoms and molecules is presented, and applied to the case of $^{39}$K and $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K bosonic particles. The model relies on the assumption that photoaossociation is dominated by long-range atom-molecule interactions, well outside the chemical bond region. The frequency of the photoassociation laser is chosen close to a bound-bound rovibronic transition from the $X^1Σ^+$ ground state toward the metastable $b^3Π$ lowest excited state of $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K, allowing to neglect any other excitation which could hinder the photoassociation detection. The energy level structure of the long-range $^{39}$K$\cdots$$^{23}$Na$^{39}$K excited super-dimer is computed in the space-fixed frame by solving coupled-channel equations, involving the coupling between the $^{23}$Na$^{39}$K internal rotation with the mechanical rotation of the super-dimer complex. A quite rich structure is obtained, and the corresponding photoassociation rates are presented. Other possible photossociation transitions are discussed in the context of the proposed model.

physics.chem-ph↗