arXiv subjects

P. S. Julienne

Publications and source records attributed to P. S. Julienne.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

A High Phase-Space-Density Gas of Polar Molecules

A quantum gas of ultracold polar molecules, with long-range and anisotropic interactions, would not only enable explorations of a large class of many-body physics phenomena, but could also be used for quantum information processing. We report on the creation of an ultracold dense gas of 40K87Rb polar molecules. Using a single step of STIRAP (STImulated Raman Adiabatic Passage) via two-frequency laser irradiation, we coherently transfer extremely weakly bound KRb molecules to the rovibrational ground state of either the triplet or the singlet electronic ground molecular potential. The polar molecular gas has a peak density of 10^12 cm^-3, and an expansion-determined translational temperature of 350 nK. The polar molecules have a permanent electric dipole moment, which we measure via Stark spectroscopy to be 0.052(2) Debye for the triplet rovibrational ground state and 0.566(17) Debye for the singlet rovibrational ground state. (1 Debye= 3.336*10^-30 C m)

quant-ph↗

arXiv2008

Heteronuclear molecules in an optical dipole trap

We report on the creation and characterization of heteronuclear KRb Feshbach molecules in an optical dipole trap. Starting from an ultracold gas mixture of K-40 and Rb-87 atoms, we create as many as 25,000 molecules at 300 nK by rf association. Optimizing the association process, we achieve a conversion efficiency of 25%. We measure the temperature dependence of the rf association process and find good agreement with a phenomenological model that has previously been applied to Feshbach molecule creation by slow magnetic-field sweeps. We also present a measurement of the binding energy of the heteronuclear molecules in the vicinity of the Feshbach resonance and provide evidence for Feshbach molecules as deeply bound as 26 MHz.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2008

Ultracold dense gas of deeply bound heteronuclear molecules

Recently, the quest for an ultracold and dense ensemble of polar molecules has attracted strong interest. Polar molecules have bright prospects for novel quantum gases with long-range and anisotropic interactions, for quantum information science, and for precision measurements. However, high-density clouds of ultracold polar molecules have so far not been produced. Here, we report a key step towards this goal. Starting from an ultracold dense gas of heteronuclear 40K-87Rb Feshbach molecules with typical binding energies of a few hundred kHz and a negligible dipole moment, we coherently transfer these molecules into a vibrational level of the ground-state molecular potential bound by >10 GHz. We thereby increase the binding energy and the expected dipole moment of the 40K-87Rb molecules by more than four orders of magnitude in a single transfer step. Starting with a single initial state prepared with Feshbach association, we achieve a transfer efficiency of 84%. While dipolar effects are not yet observable, the presented technique can be extended to access much more deeply bound vibrational levels and ultimately those exhibiting a significant dipole moment. The preparation of an ultracold quantum gas of polar molecules might therefore come within experimental reach.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2008

Exploring an ultracold Fermi-Fermi mixture: Interspecies Feshbach resonances and scattering properties of 6Li and 40K

We report on the observation of Feshbach resonances in an ultracold mixture of two fermionic species, 6Li and 40K. The experimental data are interpreted using a simple asymptotic bound state model and full coupled channels calculations. This unambiguously assigns the observed resonances in terms of various s- and p-wave molecular states and fully characterizes the ground-state scattering properties in any combination of spin states.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2007

Cruising through molecular bound state manifolds with radio frequency

The emerging field of ultracold molecules with their rich internal structure is currently attracting a lot of interest. Various methods have been developed to produce ultracold molecules in pre-set quantum states. For future experiments it will be important to efficiently transfer these molecules from their initial quantum state to other quantum states of interest. Optical Raman schemes are excellent tools for transfer, but can be involved in terms of equipment, laser stabilization and finding the right transitions. Here we demonstrate a very general and simple way for transfer of molecules from one quantum state to a neighboring quantum state with better than 99% efficiency. The scheme is based on Zeeman tuning the molecular state to avoided level crossings where radio-frequency transitions can then be carried out. By repeating this process at different crossings, molecules can be successively transported through a large manifold of quantum states. As an important spin-off of our experiments, we demonstrate a high-precision spectroscopy method for investigating level crossings.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Narrow Line Photoassociation in an Optical Lattice

With ultracold $^{88}$Sr in a 1D magic wavelength optical lattice, we performed narrow line photoassociation spectroscopy near the $^1$S$_0 - ^3$P$_1$ intercombination transition. Nine least-bound vibrational molecular levels associated with the long-range $0_u$ and $1_u$ potential energy surfaces were measured and identified. A simple theoretical model accurately describes the level positions and treats the effects of the lattice confinement on the line shapes. The measured resonance strengths show that optical tuning of the ground state scattering length should be possible without significant atom loss.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2005

Making Cold Molecules by Time-dependent Feshbach Resonances

Pairs of trapped atoms can be associated to make a diatomic molecule using a time dependent magnetic field to ramp the energy of a scattering resonance state from above to below the scattering threshold. A relatively simple model, parameterized in terms of the background scattering length and resonance width and magnetic moment, can be used to predict conversion probabilities from atoms to molecules. The model and its Landau-Zener interpretation are described and illustrated by specific calculations for $^{23}$Na, $^{87}$Rb, and $^{133}$Cs resonances. The model can be readily adapted to Bose-Einstein condensates. Comparison with full many-body calculations for the condensate case show that the model is very useful for making simple estimates of molecule conversion efficiencies.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Loading Bose condensed atoms into the ground state of an optical lattice

We optimize the turning on of a one-dimensional optical potential, V_L(x,t) = S(t) V_0 cos^2(kx) to obtain the optimal turn-on function S(t) so as to load a Bose-Einstein condensate into the ground state of the optical lattice of depth V_0. Specifically, we minimize interband excitations at the end of the turn-on of the optical potential at the final ramp time t_r, where S(t_r) = 1, given that S(0) = 0. Detailed numerical calculations confirm that a simple unit cell model is an excellent approximation when the turn-on time t_r is long compared with the inverse of the band excitation frequency and short in comparison with nonlinear time \hbar/μwhere μis the chemical potential of the condensate. We demonstrate using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation with an optimal turn-on function S(t) that the ground state of the optical lattice can be loaded with very little excitation even for times t_r on the order of the inverse band excitation frequency.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Optical tuning of the scattering length of cold alkaline earth atoms

It is possible to tune the scattering length for the collision of ultra-cold 1S0 ground state alkaline-earth atoms using an optical Feshbach resonance. This is achieved with a laser far detuned from an excited molecular level near the frequency of the atomic intercombination 1S0--3P1 transition. Simple resonant scattering theory, illustrated by the example of 40Ca, allows an estimate of the magnitude of the effect. Unlike alkali metal species, large changes of the scattering length are possible while atom loss remains small, because of the very narrow line width of the molecular photoassociation transition. This raises prospects for control of atomic interactions for a system without magnetically tunable Feshbach resonance levels.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2004

Precise determination of $^6$Li cold collision parameters by radio-frequency spectroscopy on weakly bound molecules

We employ radio-frequency spectroscopy on weakly bound $^6$Li$_2$ molecules to precisely determine the molecular binding energies and the energy splittings between molecular states for different magnetic fields. These measurements allow us to extract the interaction parameters of ultracold $^6$Li atoms based on a multi-channel quantum scattering model. We determine the singlet and triplet scattering lengths to be $a_s=45.167(8)a_0$ and $a_t=-2140(18)a_0$ (1 $a_0$ = 0.0529177 nm), and the positions of the broad Feshbach resonances in the energetically lowest three $s-$wave scattering channels to be 83.41(15) mT, 69.04(5) mT, and 81.12(10) mT.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Photoassociation spectroscopy of cold alkaline earth atoms near the intercombination line

The properties of photoassociation (PA) spectra near the intercombination line (the weak transition between $^{1}S_{0}$ and $^{3}P_{1}$ states) of group II atoms are theoretically investigated. As an example we have carried out a calculation for Calcium atoms colliding at ultra low temperatures of 1 mK, 1 $μ$K, and 1 nK. Unlike in most current photoassociation spectroscopy the Doppler effect can significantly affect the shape of the investigated lines. Spectra are obtained using Ca--Ca and Ca--Ca$^*$ short-range {\it ab initio} potentials and long-range van der Waals and resonance dipole potentials. The similar van der Waals coefficients of ground $^{1}S_{0} + ^{1}S_{0}$ and excited $^{1}S_{0} + ^{3}P_{1}$ states cause the PA to differ greatly from those of strong, allowed transitions with resonant dipole interactions. The density of spectral lines is lower, the Condon points are at relatively short range, and the reflection approximation for the Franck-Condon factors is not applicable, and the spontaneous decay to bound ground-state molecules is efficient. Finally, the possibility of efficient production of cold molecules is discussed.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2004

Feshbach Resonances in Fermionic Lithium-6

Feshbach resonances in lithium-6 were experimentally studied and theoretically analyzed. In addition to two previously known s-wave resonances, we found three p-wave resonances. Four of these resonances are narrow and yield a precise value of the singlet scattering length, but do not allow us to accurately predict the location of the broad resonance near 83 mT. Its position was previously measured in a molecule-dissociation experiment for which we, here, discuss systematic shifts.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2004

Four-Wave Mixing In BEC Systems With Multiple Spin States

We calculate the four-wave mixing (FWM) in a Bose-Einstein condensate system having multiple spin wave packets that are initially overlapping in physical space, but have nonvanishing relative momentum that cause them to recede from one another. Three receding condensate atom wave packets can result in production of a fourth wave packet by the process of FWM due to atom-atom interactions. We consider cases where the four final wave packets are composed of 1, 2, 3 and 4 different internal spin components. FWM with 1- or 2-spin state wave packets is much stronger than 3- or 4-spin state FWM, wherein two of the coherent moving BEC wave packets form a polarization-grating that rotates the spin projection of the third wave into that of fourth diffracted wave (as opposed to the 1- or 2-spin state case where a regular density-grating is responsible for the diffraction). Calculations of FWM for $^{87}$Rb and $^{23}$Na condensate systems are presented.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2003

Ab initio calculation of the KRb dipole moments

The relativistic configuration interaction valence bond method has been used to calculate permanent and transition electric dipole moments of the KRb heteronuclear molecule as a function of internuclear separation. The permanent dipole moment of the ground state $X^1Σ^+$ potential is found to be 0.30(2) $ea_0$ at the equilibrium internuclear separation with excess negative charge on the potassium atom. For the $a^3Σ^+$ potential the dipole moment is an order of magnitude smaller (1 $ea_0=8.47835 10^{-30}$ Cm) In addition, we calculate transition dipole moments between the two ground-state and excited-state potentials that dissociate to the K(4s)+Rb(5p) limits. Using this data we propose a way to produce singlet $X^1Σ^+$ KRb molecules by a two-photon Raman process starting from an ultracold mixture of doubly spin-polarized ground state K and Rb atoms. This Raman process is only allowed due to relativistic spin-orbit couplings and the absence of gerade/ungerade selection rules in heteronuclear dimers.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2003

Pseudopotential model of ultracold atomic collisions in quasi-one- and two-dimensional traps

We describe a model for s-wave collisions between ground state atoms in optical lattices, considering especially the limits of quasi-one and two dimensional axisymmetric harmonic confinement. When the atomic interactions are modelled by an s-wave Fermi-pseudopotential, the relative motion energy eigenvalues can easily be obtained. The results show that except for a bound state, the trap eigenvalues are consistent with one- and two- dimensional scattering with renormalized scattering amplitudes. For absolute scattering lengths large compared with the tightest trap width, our model predicts a novel bound state of low energy and nearly-isotropic wavefunction extending on the order of the tightest trap width.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Excitation and damping of collective modes of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a one-dimensional lattice

The mode structure of a Bose-Einstein condensate non-adiabatically loaded into a one-dimensional optical lattice is studied by analyzing the visibility of the interference pattern as well as the radial profile of the condensate after a time-of-flight. A simple model is proposed that predicts the short-time decrease of the visibility as a function of the condensate parameters. In the radial direction, heavily damped oscillations are observed, as well as an increase in the condensate temperature. These findings are interpreted as a re-thermalization due to dissipation of the initial condensate excitations into high-lying modes.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2002

Self-consistent model of ultracold atomic collisions and Feshbach resonances in tight harmonic traps

We consider the problem of cold atomic collisions in tight traps, where the absolute scattering length may be larger than the trap size. As long as the size of the trap ground state is larger than a characteristic length of the van der Waals potential, the energy eigenvalues can be computed self-consistently from the scattering amplitude for untrapped atoms. By comparing with the exact numerical eigenvalues of the trapping plus interatomic potentials, we verify that our model gives accurate eigenvalues up to milliKelvin energies for single channel s-wave scattering of $^{23}$Na atoms in an isotropic harmonic trap, even when outside the Wigner threshold regime. Our model works also for multi-channel scattering, where the scattering length can be made large due to a magnetically tunable Feshbach resonance.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2001

Scattering length of the ground state Mg+Mg collision

We have constructed the X 1SIGMAg+ potential for the collision between two ground state Mg atoms and analyzed the effect of uncertainties in the shape of the potential on scattering properties at ultra-cold temperatures. This potential reproduces the experimental term values to 0.2 inverse cm and has a scattering length of +1.4(5) nm where the error is prodominantly due to the uncertainty in the dissociation energy and the C6 dispersion coefficient. A positive sign of the scattering length suggests that a Bose-Einstein condensate of ground state Mg atoms is stable.

physics.atom-ph↗