Dynamical process of optically trapped singlet ground state $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules produced via short-range photoassociation

TL;DR

This paper studies the dynamics of optically trapped $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules in their singlet ground state, focusing on their formation, confinement, and inelastic collision rates during cold atom photoassociation.

Contribution

It introduces a phenomenological rate equation model to analyze the dynamical processes of cold molecules in optical traps, including collision measurements.

Findings

Inelastic collision rates with ultracold atoms are quantified.

The study demonstrates a generic approach for analyzing trapped cold molecules.

Molecules are successfully confined in a crossed optical dipole trap.

Abstract

We investigate the dynamical process of optically trapped X$^{1}$$\Sigma$$^{+}$ (v" = 0) state $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules distributing in J" = 1 and J" = 3 rotational states. The considered molecules, formed from short-range photoassociation of mixed cold atoms, are subsequently confined in a crossed optical dipole trap. Based on a phenomenological rate equation, we provide a detailed study of the dynamics of $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules during the loading and holding processes. The inelastic collisions of $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules in the X$^{1}$$\Sigma$$^{+}$ (v" = 0, J" = 1 and J" = 3) states with ultracold $^{85}$Rb (or $^{133}$Cs) atoms are measured to be 1.0 (2)$\times$10$^{-10}$ cm$^{3}$s$^{-1}$ (1.2 (3)$ \times$ 10$^{-10}$ cm$^{3}$s$^{-1}$). Our work provides a simple and generic procedure for studying the dynamical process of trapped cold molecules in the singlet ground states.