Non-universal Efimov Atom-Dimer Resonances in a Three-Component Mixture of 6Li

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of Efimov-related atom-dimer resonances in a three-component 6Li mixture, revealing non-universal behavior that challenges existing universal theories and introducing models for non-universal three-body physics.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of Efimov resonances in a three-component 6Li system and develops theoretical models to explain non-universal three-body effects.

Findings

Observed two atom-dimer loss peaks linked to Efimov states.

Found peak locations disagree with universal theory predictions.

Developed models for non-universal three-body interactions.

Abstract

We observed an enhanced atom-dimer relaxation due to the existence of Efimov states in a three-component mixture of 6Li atoms. We measured the magnetic-field dependence of the atom-dimer loss coefficient in the mixture of atoms in state |1> and dimers formed in states |2> and |3>, and found two peaks corresponding to the degeneracy points of the |23> dimer energy level and energy levels of Efimov trimers. We found that the locations of these peaks disagree with universal theory predictions, in a way that cannot be explained by non-universal two-body properties. We constructed theoretical models that characterize the non-universal three-body physics of three-component 6Li atoms in the low energy domain.