Production of rovibronic ground state RbCs molecules via two-photon cascade decay

Abstract

We report the production of ultracold RbCs molecules in the rovibronic ground state, i.e., $X^1{\Sigma }^{+}(v=0,J=0)$, by short-range photoassociation to the $2^3{\Pi }_0$ state followed by spontaneous emission. We use narrowband depletion spectroscopy to probe the distribution of rotational levels formed in the $X^1{\Sigma }^{+}(v=0)$ state. We conclude, based on selection rules, that the primary decay route to $X^1{\Sigma }^{+}(v=0)$ is a two-step cascade decay that leads to as much as $33\%$ branching into the $J=0$ rotational level. The experimental simplicity of our scheme opens up the possibility of easier access to the study and manipulation of ultracold heteronuclear molecules in the rovibronic ground state.

5 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (7)

• A High Phase-Space-Density Gas of Polar Molecules
• Ultracold dense samples of dipolar RbCs molecules in the rovibrational and hyperfine ground state
• Optical pumping and vibrational cooling of molecules
• Inelastic collisions of ultra-cold heteronuclear molecules in an optical trap
• Rovibrational cooling of molecules by optical pumping
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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Ultracold Molecule Assembly with Photonic Crystals
• The $d{}^3\Pi$ state of LiRb