Mainz 2017 – scientific programme
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A: Fachverband Atomphysik
A 28: Ultracold Plasmas, Rydberg Systems and Molecules (with Q)
A 28.7: Talk
Thursday, March 9, 2017, 12:45–13:00, P 104
Creating 23Na40K ground state molecules with detuned STIRAP — •Frauke Seeßelberg1, Xin-Yu Luo1, Nikolaus Buchheim1, Zhenkai Lu1, Immanuel Bloch1,2, and Christoph Gohle1 — 1Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany — 2Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Schellingstraße 4, 80799 München, Germany
Molecules in their absolute vibrational and rotational ground state promise exciting new possibilities for quantum simulation due to their large inducible dipole moments. It is however challenging to obtain molecules, which are sufficiently cold and dense enough for this purpose.
Starting from a near quantum degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of sodium and potassium we employ stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP). STIRAP is a two-photon process, with which we transfer weakly bound heteronuclear NaK Feshbach molecules via an intermediate, excited molecular state in the d/D potential manifold to the molecular ground state. To reduce excessive scattering from near resonant levels in the excited state, we go one-photon detuned with respect to this intermediate molecular level. We experimentally investigate the efficiency of the STIRAP process at various one-photon detunings and compare them with a theoretical model.