Singlet s-wave scattering lengths of {sup 6}Li and {sup 7}Li
- and others
Ultracold collisional interactions are crucial to both the dynamical evolution and the steady-state behavior of systems designed to observe Bose-Einstein condensation, and are relevant to the advances in high precision measurements, and the creation of more highly accurate atomic clocks based on laser-cooled neutral atoms. An important parameter for understanding these collisions is the s-wave scattering length {alpha}, which can be determined from accurate knowledge of the two-body interaction potential. Photoassociation of ultracold lithium atoms into bound vibrational levels of the A{sup 1}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup +} excited state is used to probe the X{sup 1}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup +} ground state interaction potential of {sup 6}Li{sub 2} and {sup 7}Li{sub 2}. It had been predicted that the s-wave photoassociation signal strength would pass through a minimum as a function of vibrational level for positive scattering length. The authors present the observation of this novel effect, and use the location of the minimum to precisely determine the singlet s-wave scattering length for both isotopes. The sensitivity of this technique is demonstrated by distinguishing the scattering lengths for collisions involving {sup 7}Li atoms in different hyperfine states.
- OSTI ID:
- 394178
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9605105--
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Journal Name: Bulletin of the American Physical Society Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 41; ISSN BAPSA6; ISSN 0003-0503
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Triplet s-wave resonance in {sup 6}Li collisions and scattering lengths of {sup 6}Li and {sup 7}Li
Sympathetic cooling of {sup 6}Li atoms