Photoassociative spectroscopy of ultracold metastable argon

Journal Article · Sun May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2011 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.83.052516· OSTI ID:21546765

Shaffer, M K; Ranjit, G; Sukenik, C I; Walhout, M ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia 23529 (United States)

We present results of photoassociative spectroscopy performed on ultracold metastable argon atoms in a magneto-optical trap. Ion spectra are obtained with laser detuning up to a few gigahertz below the 4s[3/2]{sub 2}{yields}4p[5/2]{sub 3} trapping transition at 811 nm and with intensities in a range of {approx}(10{sup 2}-10{sup 5})I{sub Sat}. We also compute dipole-dipole potentials for both singly and doubly excited diatomic molecules and use a Leroy-Bernstein analysis to determine the approximate vibrational spacings in the (s+p) and (p+p) manifolds. Based on this theoretical framework, we explain a broad background feature in our data and suggest that double-excitation mechanisms are likely responsible for sharp dips in the ion signal.

• OSTI ID: 21546765
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 83; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
APPROXIMATIONS
ARGON
ATOMS
CALCULATION METHODS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DIPOLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
FLUIDS
GASES
IONS
LASERS
MOLECULES
MULTIPOLES
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
SPECTROSCOPY
TRAPPING