Vibrational State Distribution of Na{sub 2}{sup +} Ions Created in Ultracold Collisions

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.3089· OSTI ID:491661

Blange, J; Zijlstra, J; Amelink, A; Urbain, X; Rudolph, H; van der Straten, P; Beijerinck, H; Heideman, H ^[1]

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1. Debye Institute, Department of Atomic and Interface Physics, Utrecht University, P.O.Box 80.000, 3508 TA Utrecht (The Netherlands)

The vibrational distribution P(v) of Na{sub 2}{sup +} ions created in ultracold collisions in a magneto-optical trap has been determined. Only two vibrational states with v=2and3 are populated and we find P(2)=0.29{plus_minus}0.02 and P(3)=0.71{plus_minus}0.02. The results provide conclusive evidence that the ionization mechanism is photoassociative autoionization, and not photoassociative photoionization, and will form a fundamental test for the theoretical description of the process. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 491661
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 16 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
DISTRIBUTION
IONIZATION
MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
PHOTOIONIZATION
SODIUM IONS
TRAPS
VIBRATIONAL STATES