Collisional decay of 87Rb Feshbach molecules at 1005.8 G

TL;DR

This study measures inelastic collision loss-rate coefficients for 87Rb Feshbach molecules near 1005.8 G, providing insights into molecular stability and collision dynamics relevant for ultracold quantum gases.

Contribution

It reports the first precise measurements of atom-molecule and molecule-molecule loss-rate coefficients at a specific magnetic field near a Feshbach resonance.

Findings

K_am = 2 x 10^-10 cm^3/s

K_mm = 3 x 10^-10 cm^3/s

Molecular loss rates are quantified at 1005.8 G

Abstract

We present measurements of the loss-rate coefficients K_am and K_mm caused by inelastic atom-molecule and molecule-molecule collisions. A thermal cloud of atomic 87Rb is prepared in an optical dipole trap. A magnetic field is ramped across the Feshbach resonance at 1007.4 G. This associates atom pairs to molecules. A measurement of the molecule loss at 1005.8 G yields K_am=2 10^-10 cm^3/s. Additionally, the atoms can be removed with blast light. In this case, the measured molecule loss yields K_mm=3 10^-10 cm^3/s.