Coherent Optical Transfer of Feshbach Molecules to a Lower Vibrational State

Journal Article · Fri Jan 26 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.98.043201· OSTI ID:20861640

Winkler, K; Lang, F; Thalhammer, G; Denschlag, J Hecker ^[1]; Straten, P van der ^[2]; Grimm, R ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Experimentalphysik, Forschungszentrum fuer Quantenphysik, Universitaet Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck (Austria)
2. Debye Institute, Universiteit Utrecht, 3508 TA Utrecht (Netherlands)

Using the technique of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) we have coherently transferred ultracold {sup 87}Rb{sub 2} Feshbach molecules into a more deeply bound vibrational quantum level. Our measurements indicate a high transfer efficiency of up to 87%. Because the molecules are held in an optical lattice with not more than a single molecule per lattice site, inelastic collisions between the molecules are suppressed and we observe long molecular lifetimes of about 1 s. Using STIRAP we have created quantum superpositions of the two molecular states and tested their coherence interferometrically. These results represent an important step towards Bose-Einstein condensation of molecules in the vibrational ground state.

• OSTI ID: 20861640
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 98; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
BOSE-EINSTEIN CONDENSATION
COLLISIONS
GROUND STATES
INELASTIC SCATTERING
LIFETIME
MOLECULES
RUBIDIUM 87
VIBRATIONAL STATES