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Probing the Axis Alignment of an Ultracold Spin-polarized Rb2 Molecule

Markus Deiß, Björn Drews, Benjamin Deissler, and Johannes Hecker Denschlag
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 233004 – Published 3 December 2014
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Abstract

We present a novel method for probing the alignment of the molecular axis of an ultracold, nonpolar dimer. These results are obtained using diatomic Rb287 molecules in the vibrational ground state of the lowest triplet potential a3Σu+ trapped in a 3D optical lattice. We measure the molecular polarizabilities, which are directly linked to the alignment, along each of the x, y, and z directions of the lab coordinate system. By preparing the molecules in various, precisely defined rotational quantum states we can control the degree of alignment of the molecular axis with high precision over a large range. Furthermore, we derive the dynamical polarizabilities for a laser wavelength of 1064.5 nm parallel and orthogonal to the molecular axis of the dimer, α=(8.9±0.9)×103a.u. and α=(0.9±0.4)×103a.u., respectively. Our findings highlight that the depth of an optical lattice strongly depends on the rotational state of the molecule, which has to be considered in collision experiments. The present work paves the way for reaction studies between aligned molecules in the ultracold temperature regime.

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  • Received 4 April 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.233004

© 2014 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Making Molecules Stand to Attention

Published 3 December 2014

Cold molecules trapped in an optical lattice can be aligned by controlling their rotational quantum state.

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Authors & Affiliations

Markus Deiß, Björn Drews, Benjamin Deissler, and Johannes Hecker Denschlag

  • Institut für Quantenmaterie and Center for Integrated Quantum Science and Technology IQST, Universität Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 113, Iss. 23 — 5 December 2014

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