Rydberg Trimers and Excited Dimers Bound by Internal Quantum Reflection

V. Bendkowsky, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. B. Balewski, J. P. Shaffer, R. Löw, T. Pfau, W. Li, J. Stanojevic, T. Pohl, and J. M. Rost
Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 163201 – Published 12 October 2010
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Abstract

In a combined experimental and theoretical effort we report on two novel types of ultracold long-range Rydberg molecules. First, we demonstrate the creation of triatomic molecules of one Rydberg atom and two ground-state atoms in a single-step photoassociation. Second, we assign a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop. The properties of the Rydberg molecules identified in this work qualify them as prototypes for a new type of chemistry at ultracold temperatures.

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  • Received 25 February 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.163201

© 2010 The American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

V. Bendkowsky*, B. Butscher, J. Nipper, J. B. Balewski, J. P. Shaffer, R. Löw, and T. Pfau

  • 5. Physikalisches Institut, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany

W. Li, J. Stanojevic, T. Pohl, and J. M. Rost

  • Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme, Noethnitzer Strasse 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany

  • *v.bendkowsky@physik.uni-stuttgart.de
  • Present address: University of Oklahoma, Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, 440 W. Brooks Street, Norman, OK 73019, USA.
  • tpohl@pks.mpg.de

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Issue

Vol. 105, Iss. 16 — 15 October 2010

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