Formation of ultracold triatomic molecules by electric microwave association

verfasst von: Baraa Shammout, Leon Karpa, Silke Ospelkaus, Eberhard Tiemann, Olivier Dulieu
Abstract: A theoretical model is proposed for the formation of ultracold ground-state triatomic molecules in weakly bound energy levels. The process is driven by the electric component of a microwave field, which induces the association of an ultracold atom colliding with an ultracold diatomic molecule. This model is exemplified using K39 atoms and Na23K39 molecules, both in their ground states, a scenario of experimental relevance. The model assumes that the dynamics of the association are dominated by the long-range van der Waals interaction between K39 and Na23K39. The electric microwave association mechanism relies on the intrinsic electric dipole moment of Na23K39, which drives transitions between its lowest rotational levels (j=0 and j=1). The energies of the uppermost triatomic energy levels are computed by numerically solving coupled Schrödinger equations using the Mapped Fourier Grid Hamiltonian method. Measurable association rates are derived within the framework of a perturbative approach. This method of electric microwave association provides an alternative to atom-molecule association via magnetic Feshbach resonances for forming ultracold, deeply bound triatomic molecules, and is applicable to a wide range of polar diatomic molecules.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Quantenoptik
Externe Organisation(en): Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Physical Review Research
Band: 7
ISSN: 2643-1564
Publikationsdatum: 27.05.2025
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Allgemeine Physik und Astronomie
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023187 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{5be737ced61d47778ed1125b8763470b,
title = "Formation of ultracold triatomic molecules by electric microwave association",
abstract = "A theoretical model is proposed for the formation of ultracold ground-state triatomic molecules in weakly bound energy levels. The process is driven by the electric component of a microwave field, which induces the association of an ultracold atom colliding with an ultracold diatomic molecule. This model is exemplified using K39 atoms and Na23K39 molecules, both in their ground states, a scenario of experimental relevance. The model assumes that the dynamics of the association are dominated by the long-range van der Waals interaction between K39 and Na23K39. The electric microwave association mechanism relies on the intrinsic electric dipole moment of Na23K39, which drives transitions between its lowest rotational levels (j=0 and j=1). The energies of the uppermost triatomic energy levels are computed by numerically solving coupled Schr{\"o}dinger equations using the Mapped Fourier Grid Hamiltonian method. Measurable association rates are derived within the framework of a perturbative approach. This method of electric microwave association provides an alternative to atom-molecule association via magnetic Feshbach resonances for forming ultracold, deeply bound triatomic molecules, and is applicable to a wide range of polar diatomic molecules.",
author = "Baraa Shammout and Leon Karpa and Silke Ospelkaus and Eberhard Tiemann and Olivier Dulieu",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 authors.",
year = "2025",
month = may,
day = "27",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023187",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
journal = "Physical Review Research",
issn = "2643-1564",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "2",
}