Berlin 2014 – scientific programme

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MO: Fachverband Molekülphysik

MO 14: Cold Molecules 2

MO 14.1: Talk

Thursday, March 20, 2014, 10:30–10:45, BEBEL HS213

Probing the orientation of ⁸⁷Rb₂ molecules in the a³Σ_u⁺ rovibrational ground state by measuring the polarizability — •Markus Deiss, Björn Drews, Benjamin Deissler, and Johannes Hecker Denschlag — Institut für Quantenmaterie, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 45, D-89081 Ulm, Germany

We carry out experiments with ⁸⁷Rb₂ molecules in the rovibrational ground state of the a³Σ_u⁺ potential trapped in a 3d optical lattice. The molecules can be prepared in states with different angular momentum (either N=0 or N=2 with N being the molecular rotation). In the case of N=2 the dimers are oriented along the direction of an external magnetic field. We can determine this orientation by measuring the molecular polarizability in an angle resolved way. By amplitude modulation of the lattice beams the excitation resonances from the lowest lattice band to higher bands are measured and the dynamical polarizability is inferred. In contrast to N=0, where no angular dependence is found, N=2 shows a significant change in polarizability as a function of angle between laser polarization and the molecular axis.