Formation of a molecular ion by photoassociative Raman processes

TL;DR

This paper theoretically demonstrates the feasibility of forming cold molecular ions from ion-atom collisions using photoassociative Raman processes, specifically STIRAP, outlining conditions for coherent population transfer.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical framework for using two-photon Raman processes, including STIRAP, to create molecular ions in cold ion-atom collisions, which is novel for this field.

Findings

Coherent population transfer via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage is possible.

Physical conditions for successful photoassociative Raman processes are identified.

Results support experimental efforts in cold ion-atom collision studies.

Abstract

We show theoretically that it is possible to form a cold molecular ion from a pair of colliding atom and ion at low energy by photoassociative two-photon Raman processes. We explore the possibility of stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) from the continuum of ion-atom scattering states to an ionic molecular state. We provide physical conditions under which coherent population transfer is possible in stimulated Raman photoassociation. Our results are important for experimental realization of PA in ion-atom cold collisions.