Modeling optical formation of ultracold NaK2 ground-state molecules
Abstract
We study the rovibronic transitions in NaK2 between its electronic ground state 12A′ and its second excited state 32A′, to identify possible pathways for the creation of ultracold ground-state triatomic molecules. Our methodology relies on the computation of potential energy surfaces and transition dipole moment surfaces for the relevant electronic states using ab initio methods. Rovibrational energy levels and wave functions are determined using the discrete variable representation approach. A double-well structure of the potential energy surface is identified for both states, and the related transition strengths between the rovibrational levels are derived. Our calculations show that the formation of ultracold ground-state NaK2 molecules is expected when starting from an excited electronic state of NaK2, which can be created by photoassociation of NaK and K, as observed by optical means by Cao, et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett.132, 093403 (2026) 0031-9007 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.093403].
Details
- Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Quantum Optics
- External Organisation(s)
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Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Physical Review Research
- Volume
- 8
- ISSN
- 2643-1564
- Publication date
- 14.01.2026
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1103/y7gm-1w9c (Access:
Open
)
