Ultracold Collisions at High Intensity
S. D. Gensemer and P. L. Gould
We have measured the intensity dependence of laser-induced trap-loss collisions
between ultracold Rb atoms. With the trapping lasers off, short (~100ns)
pulses of an intense (up to 10 W/cm2) probe laser are applied
to the trapped sample. The resulting increase in the density-dependent
loss rate of atoms from the trap is used to determine the inelsatic collision
rate. Saturation of the collision rate at high intensities is observed
for various detunings of this probe laser below the atomic resonance.
Comparisons are made between the observed saturation behavior and the predictions
of a simple Landau-Zener model.
[1] K.-A. Suominen, M.J. Holland, K. Burnett, and P.S. Julienne, Phys.
Rev. A 49, 3897 (1994).
Here are our preliminary data:
