Spontaneous Dissociation of 85Rb Feshbach Molecules

TL;DR

This paper reports the observation of spontaneous dissociation of 85Rb Feshbach molecules near a resonance, showing a strong magnetic field dependence and agreement with inelastic spin relaxation theory, with lifetimes up to tens of milliseconds.

Contribution

It provides experimental measurements of molecular lifetimes near a Feshbach resonance and confirms theoretical models of dissociation mechanisms.

Findings

Molecular lifetime varies by three orders of magnitude with magnetic field.

Lifetimes of tens of milliseconds are achievable near resonance.

Experimental results agree with inelastic spin relaxation theory.

Abstract

The spontaneous dissociation of 85Rb dimers in the highest lying vibrational level has been observed in the vicinity of the Feshbach resonance which was used to produce them. The molecular lifetime shows a strong dependence on magnetic field, varying by three orders of magnitude between 155.5 G and 162.2 G. Our measurements are in good agreement with theoretical predictions in which molecular dissociation is driven by inelastic spin relaxation. Molecule lifetimes of tens of milliseconds can be achieved close to resonance.