Observation of a p-wave Optical Feshbach Resonance

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of a p-wave optical Feshbach resonance in fermionic ytterbium-171, demonstrating control over atomic interactions via long-range molecular states at ultracold temperatures.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence of a p-wave OFR using long-range molecular states in ^{171}Yb, confirming theoretical predictions and expanding control over atomic interactions.

Findings

Observed p-wave OFR as a change in photoassociation rate

Measured a scattering phase shift variation of 0.022 radians

Determined an atom loss rate coefficient of 28.0×10^{-12} cm^3/s

Abstract

We demonstrate a p$-wave optical Feshbach resonance (OFR) using purely long-range molecular states of a fermionic isotope of ytterbium ^{171}Yb, following the proposition made by K. Goyal et al. [Phys. Rev. A 82, 062704 (2010)]. The p-wave OFR is clearly observed as a modification of a photoassociation rate for atomic ensembles at about 5 micro-Kelvins. A scattering phase shift variation of \delta \eta=0.022 rad is observed with an atom loss rate coefficient K=28.0*10^{-12} cm^3/s.