Two-Photon Spectroscopy of the NaLi Triplet Ground State

TL;DR

This paper uses two-photon spectroscopy to investigate the vibrational states of the triplet ground state of NaLi molecules, providing detailed measurements and potential fitting for ultracold molecule research.

Contribution

It reports new vibrational binding energies, line strengths, and potential parameters for the NaLi triplet ground state, including rotational splitting observations.

Findings

Vibrational state binding energies measured.

Potential fitting parameters determined.

Rotational splitting observed in lowest vibrational state.

Abstract

We employ two-photon spectroscopy to study the vibrational states of the triplet ground state potential ($a^3\Sigma^+$) of the $^{23}$Na$^{6}$Li molecule. Pairs of Na and Li atoms in an ultracold mixture are photoassociated into an excited triplet molecular state, which in turn is coupled to vibrational states of the triplet ground potential. Vibrational state binding energies, line strengths, and potential fitting parameters for the triplet ground $a^3\Sigma^+$ potential are reported. We also observe rotational splitting in the lowest vibrational state.