Formation of ultracold metastable Rb2 molecules in their v"=0 level by blue-detuned photoassociation

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of blue-detuned photoassociation in ultracold Rb2 molecules, revealing vibrational levels above the atomic asymptote and their decay to metastable states, with potential implications for molecular control.

Contribution

First demonstration of blue-detuned photoassociation in Rb2 molecules producing vibrational levels above the atomic asymptote.

Findings

Observed vibrational levels in all four spin-orbit components.

Molecules decay to the metastable a3Sigma u+ state, including the v

Some molecules decay preferentially to the v

Abstract

We report on the observation of blue-detuned photoassociation in Rb2, in which vibrational levels are energetically above the corresponding excited atomic asymptote. 85Rb atoms in a MOT were photoassociated at short internuclear distances to levels of the (1)3Pi g state at a rate of approximately 5x10^4 molecules/s. We have observed most of the predicted vibrational levels for all four spin-orbit components 0g+, 0g-, 1g, and 2g, including levels of the 0g+ outer well. These molecules decay to the metastable a3Sigma u+ state, some preferentially to the v"=0 level, as we have observed for photoassociation to the v'=8 level of the 1g component.