Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Seminar

We report recent results on the photoassociation of deeply-bound RbCs molecules in the electronically excited (2)³Π₀ state. Through RKR analysis of the atomic scattering, photoassociation, and ground states, we have predicted and verified numerous vibrational levels that decay favorably to the v=0 level of the X¹Σ⁺ ground state. For photoassociation on the J=1 level of the Ω=0⁺ component of the (2)³Π₀ state, selection rules from the spontaneous decay constrain the ground state molecules to the J=0, 2 rotational levels. Depletion spectroscopy of the rotational levels within the ground vibrational level is currently underway. We are also investigating methods for the continuous accumulation of rovibrational ground state RbCs in an optical trap. We intend to purify the trap by exploiting inelastic trap loss mechanisms that are predicted to remove only excited RbCs, yielding a large, trapped sample of polar v=J=0 molecules.