A Simple, Versatile Laser System for the Creation of Ultracold Ground State Molecules

Abstract

A narrow-linewidth, dual-wavelength laser system is vital for the creation of ultracold ground state molecules via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) from a weakly bound Feshbach state. Here we describe how a relatively simple apparatus consisting of a single fixed-length optical cavity can be used to narrow the linewidth of the two different wavelength lasers required for STIRAP simultaneously. The frequency of each of these lasers is referenced to the cavity and is continuously tunable away from the cavity modes through the use of non-resonant electrooptic modulators. Self-heterodyne measurements suggest the laser linewidths are reduced to several hundred Hz. In the context of 87Rb133Cs molecules produced via magnetoassociation on a Feshbach resonance, we demonstrate the performance of the laser system through one- and two-photon molecular spectroscopy. Finally, we demonstrate transfer of the molecules to the rovibrational ground state using STIRAP.

21 pages, 11 figures

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• New frontiers with quantum gases of polar molecules
• Controlling the Rotational and Hyperfine State of Ultracold ${}^{87}$Rb${}^{133}$Cs Molecules
• Enhanced quantum control of individual ultracold molecules using optical tweezer arrays
• AC Stark Effect in Ultracold Polar RbCs Molecules
• Observation of Rydberg blockade due to the charge-dipole interaction between an atom and a polar molecule
• Efficient conversion of closed-channel dominated Feshbach molecules of ${}^{23}$Na${}^{40}$K to their absolute ground state
• Enhanced quantum state transfer via feedforward cancellation of optical phase noise
• A pathway to ultracold bosonic ${}^{23}{\text{Na}}^{39}\text{K}$ ground state molecules
• Highly Efficient Creation and Detection of Deeply-bound Molecules via Invariant-based Inverse Engineering with Feasible Modified Drivings
• Molecule-molecule and atom-molecule collisions with ultracold RbCs molecules