Associative ionization in a dilute ultracold ${}^7$Li gas probed with a hybrid trap

Abstract

The formation of Li${}_2^{+}$ and subsequently Li${}^{+}$ ions, during the excitation of ${}^7$Li atoms to the $3S_{1/2}$ state in a ${}^7$Li magneto optical trap (MOT), is probed in an ion-atom hybrid trap. Associative ionization occurs during the collision of Li($2P_{3/2}$) and Li($3S_{1/2}$) ultracold atoms, creating Li${}_2^{+}$ ions. Photodissociation of Li${}_2^{+}$ by the MOT lasers is an active channel for the conversion of Li${}_2^{+}$ to Li${}^{+}$. A fraction of the Li${}_2^{+}$ ions is long lived even in the presence of MOT light. Additionally, rapid formation of Li${}^{+}$ from Li${}_2^{+}$ in the absence of MOT light is observed. Resonant excitation of ultracold atoms, resulting in intricate molecular dynamics, reveals important processes in ultracold dilute gases.

The submitted manuscript consists of 10 pages including references. It consists of 11 figures including the figures in the supplemental material