Production of ultracold heteronuclear YbRb* molecules by photoassociation

TL;DR

This paper reports the production and spectroscopic characterization of ultracold heteronuclear YbRb* molecules via photoassociation in a magneto-optical trap, revealing detailed vibrational and rotational structure.

Contribution

It demonstrates the formation of electronically excited YbRb* molecules near the dissociation limit and determines their long-range potential experimentally.

Findings

Observation of trap loss spectroscopy indicating molecule formation

Resolved vibrational and rotational structure of excited molecules

Experimental determination of the long-range potential

Abstract

We have produced ultracold heteronuclear YbRb$^*$ molecules in a combined magneto-optical trap by photoassociation. The formation of electronically excited molecules close to the dissociation limit was observed by trap loss spectroscopy in mixtures of $^{87}$Rb with $^{174}$Yb and $^{176}$Yb. The molecules could be prepared in a series of vibrational levels with resolved rotational structure, allowing for an experimental determination of the long-range potential in the electronically excited state.