Demonstrating coherent control in 85Rb2 using ultrafast laser pulses: a theoretical outline of two experiments

TL;DR

This paper presents theoretical calculations demonstrating how ultrafast laser pulses can coherently control rubidium-85 molecules in a trap, enabling oscillations and vibrational state transfer with optimized pulse parameters.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework for two experiments on coherent control of rubidium-85 molecules using shaped ultrafast laser pulses, including optimal control parameters.

Findings

Ultrafast pulses can induce coherent oscillations in pre-associated molecules.

A mechanism for transferring molecules to deeper vibrational levels is identified.

Optimal pulse parameters are determined for experimental implementation.

Abstract

Calculations relating to two experiments that demonstrate coherent control of preformed rubidium-85 molecules in a magneto-optical trap using ultrafast laser pulses are presented. In the first experiment, it is shown that pre-associated molecules in an incoherent mixture of states can be made to oscillate coherently using a single ultrafast pulse. A mechanism that can transfer molecular population to more deeply bound vibrational levels is used in the second. Optimal parameters of the control pulse are presented for the application of the mechanism to molecules in a magneto-optical trap. The calculations make use of an experimental determination of the initial state of molecules photoassociated by the trapping lasers in the magneto-optical trap and use shaped pulses consistent with a standard ultrafast laser system.