Abstract
We report here on the production of an ultracold gas of tightly bound triplet molecules in the rovibrational ground state, close to quantum degeneracy. This is achieved by optically transferring weakly bound molecules to the absolute lowest level of the ground triplet potential with a transfer efficiency of about 90%. The transfer takes place in a 3D optical lattice which traps a sizeable fraction of the tightly bound molecules with a lifetime exceeding 200 ms.
- Received 5 September 2008
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.133005
©2008 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
From atoms to molecules (and back)
Published 25 September 2008
Atoms colliding in a magnetic field can form weakly bound states called Feshbach molecules. These states have now been used in combination with advanced laser techniques to create tightly bound ground-state molecules close to quantum degeneracy.
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