Giant formation rates of ultracold molecules via Feshbach-optimized photoassociation

Ultracold molecules offer a broad variety of applications, ranging from metrology to quantum computing. However, forming "real" ultracold molecules, i.e., in deeply bound levels, is a very difficult proposition. Here, we show how photoassociation in the vicinity of a Feshbach resonance enhances molecular formation rates by several orders of magnitude. We illustrate this effect in heteronuclear systems, and find giant rate coefficients even in deeply bound levels. We also give a simple analytical expression for the photoassociation rate and discuss future applications of the Feshbach-optimized photoassociation technique.     

Observation of optically induced feshbach resonances in collisions of cold atoms

We have observed optically induced Feshbach resonances in a cold ( <1 mK) sodium vapor. The optical coupling of the ground and excited-state potentials changes the scattering properties of an ultracold gas in much the same way as recently observed magnetically induced Feshbach resonances, but allows for some experimental conveniences associated with using lasers. The scattering properties can be varied by changing either the intensity or the detuning of a laser tuned near a photoassociation transition to a molecular state in the dimer. In principle this method allows the scattering length of any atomic species to be altered. A simple model is used to fit the dispersive resonance line shapes.     

Photoassociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate near a Feshbach resonance

We measure the effect of a magnetic Feshbach resonance (FR) on the rate and light-induced frequency shift of a photoassociation resonance in ultracold 7Li. The photoassociation-induced loss-rate coefficient K_{p} depends strongly on magnetic field, varying by more than a factor of 10;{4} for fields near the FR. At sufficiently high laser intensities, K_{p} for a thermal gas decreases with increasing intensity, while saturation is observed for the first time in a Bose-Einstein condensate. The frequency shift is also strongly field dependent and exhibits an anomalous blueshift for fields just below the FR.     

Optical control of Feshbach resonances in Fermi gases using molecular dark states

We propose a general method for optical control of magnetic Feshbach resonances in ultracold atomic gases with more than one molecular state in an energetically closed channel. Using two optical frequencies to couple two states in the closed channel, inelastic loss arising from spontaneous emission is greatly suppressed by destructive quantum interference at the two-photon resonance, i.e., dark-state formation, while the scattering length is widely tunable by varying the frequencies and/or intensities of the optical fields. This technique is of particular interest for a two-component atomic Fermi gas, which is stable near a Feshbach resonance.     

New directions in degenerate dipolar molecules via collective association

We survey results on the creation of heteronuclear Fermi molecules by tuning a degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture into the neighborhood of an association resonance, either photoassociation or Feshbach, as well as the subsequent prospects for Cooper-like pairing between atoms and molecules. In the simplest case of only one molecular state, corresponding to either a Feshbach resonance or one-color photoassociation, the system displays Rabi oscillations and rapid adiabatic passage between a Bose-Fermi mixture of atoms and fermionic molecules. For two-color photoassociation, the system admits stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) from a Bose-Fermi mixture of atoms to stable Fermi molecules, even in the presence of particle-particle interactions. By tailoring the STIRAP sequence it is possible to deliberately convert only a fraction of the initial atoms, leaving a finite fraction of bosons behind to induce atom-molecule Cooper pairing via density fluctuations; unfortunately, this enhancement is insufficient to achieve a superfluid transition with present ultracold technology. We therefore propose the use of an association resonance that converts atoms and diatomic molecules (dimers) into triatomic molecules (trimers), which leads to a crossover from a Bose-Einstein condensate of trimers to atom-dimer Cooper pairs. Because heteronuclear dimers may possess a permanent electric dipole moment, this overall system presents an opportunity to investigate novel microscopic physics.Received: 16 June 2004, Published online: 21 September 2004PACS: 03.75.Ss Degenerate Fermi gases - 05.30.Fk Fermion systems and electron gas - 34.10. + x General theories and models of atomic and molecular collisions and interactions (including statistical theories, transition state, stochastic and trajectory models, etc.) - 74.20.Mn Nonconventional mechanisms (spin fluctuations, polarons and bipolarons, resonating valence bond model, anyon mechanism, marginal Fermi liquid, Luttinger liquid, etc.) - 21.10.-k Properties of nuclei; nuclear energy levels     

Effect of external magnetic field on the shift of resonant frequency in photoassociation of ultracold Cs atoms

We study the influence of external magnetic field on the shift of the resonant frequency in the photoassociation of ultracold Cs atoms, which are captured in a magnetically levitated optical crossed dipole trap. With the increase of the photoassociation laser intensity, the linear variation of the frequency shift is measured by recording the photoassociation spectra of the long-range 0_u~+ state of Cs molecule below the 6S_(1/2)+ 6P_(1/2) dissociation limit at different magnetic fields.The slope of the frequency shift to the intensity of the photoassociation laser exhibits a strong dependence on the external magnetic field. The experimental data is simulated with an analytic theory model, in which a single channel rectangular potential with the tunable well depth is introduced to acquire the influence of the magnetic field on the atomic behavior in the effective range where photoassociation occurs.     

Exact ground states of rotating Bose gases close to a Feshbach resonance

We study the ground states of rotating Bose gases when interactions are affected by a nearby Feshbach resonance. We show that exact ground states at high angular momentum can be found analytically for a general model for the resonant interactions. We identify parameter regimes where the exact ground states are exotic fractional quantum Hall states, the excitations of which obey nonabelian exchange statistics.     

Interference of quantum states in electronic waveguides with impurities

Effects of interference between propagating and localized states in quasi-one-dimensional electronic waveguides containing finite-size attracting impurities (quantum dots) are investigated. The electron scattering matrix is calculated in the framework of the Feshbach theory [H. Feshbach, Ann. Phys. 5, 357 (1958); Ann. Phys. 19, 287 (1962)], when resonant states in closed channels are taken into account exactly, while non-resonant states are taken into account in perturbation theory. It is shown that finite-size attracting impurities may generate a series of asymmetric Fano resonances in the waveguide transmission. As a result of interference of electron states, the characteristics of resonances may oscillate upon a change in the impurity parameters. The conditions are determined under which the interference of an electron wave leads to a “collapse” and “swing” of Fano resonances.     

Strongly interacting ultracold quantum gases

This article reviews recent progresses in ultracold quantum gases, and it includes three subjects which are the Fermi gases across a Feshbach resonance, quantum gases in the optical lattices and the fast rotating quantum gases. In this article, we discuss many basic physics pictures and concepts in quantum gases, for examples, the resonant interaction, universality and condensation in the lowest Landau level; we introduce fundamental theoretical tools for studying these systems, such as mean-field theory for BEC-BCS crossover and for the boson Hubbard model; also, we emphasize the important unsolved problems in the forefront of this field, for instance, the temperature effect in optical lattices.      

F+H2化学反应中的Feshbach共振之研究

化学反应共振态研究是化学动力学研究的重要前沿课题,对于理解基元化学反应的机理有重要的意义.本文中介绍了最近在这一研究方向的重大进展.通过对F＋H2化学反应的全量子态分辨的分子束反应散射实验研究,观测到了F＋H2中反应中明显的反应共振现象.通过高精度的全量子散射动力学研究,发现这一共振现象是由两个Feshbach共振态所引起的,而且这两个Feshbach共振态之间在前向散射有明显的量子干涉效应.这项研究工作使得我们对这一重要基元反应中的化学反应共振态研究向前迈进了一大步。     

Interference phenomena at the elastic collision of atoms with formation of the Feshbach resonance in the presence of laser radiation field

Resonant scattering of atoms with formation of the Feshbach resonance in the presence of a laser radiation coupling the levels of two bound atoms (a molecule) is considered. The laser field leads to a second resonance in scattering and broadening of resonances, which facilitates the possibility of experimental observation of asymmetry of the total scattering cross-section arising because of interference between resonant and potential scatterings. The effects associated with interference of the two channels of decay of a bound system of two atoms (a molecule) in the laser field are studied. An expression is obtained for the scattering length in collision of two cold atoms in the field of laser radiation.     

Anomalous frequency shift in the photoassociation spectrum of a Bose-Einstein condensate

We theoretically investigate the effect of anomalous quantum correlations on the light-induced frequency shift in the photoassociation spectrum of a Bose-Einstein condensate. Anomalous quantum correlations arise because, although formed from a pair of zero-momentum condensate atoms, a condensate molecule need not dissociate back to the atomic condensate, but may just as well form a noncondensate atom pair with equal and opposite momentum, i.e., due to rogue photodissociation. The uncorrelated frequency shift of the photoassociation spectrum is to the red and linearly dependent on the laser intensity I. In contrast, anomalous correlations due to rogue dissociation lead to a blueshifted photoassociation spectrum. For sufficiently low light intensities, the rogue blueshift is dominant and proportional to sqrt[I].     

Quantum interference in Mössbauer scattering spectra

The role of quantum interference in the formation of the resonance scattering spectra of Mössbauer photons is studied. A resonant rf field mixing the spin levels of the excited state of a nucleus is considered to be the mechanism ensuring the conditions for quantum interference. A considerable intensity redistribution of the elastic and Raman scattering channels is shown to occur as a result of quantum interference.     

Electric-field-modified Feshbach resonances in ultracold atom–molecule collision

We present a detailed analysis of near zero-energy Feshbach resonances in ultracold collisions of atom and molecule,taking the He–PH system as an example, subject to superimposed electric and magnetic static fields. We find that the electric field can induce Feshbach resonance which cannot occur when only a magnetic field is applied, through couplings of the adjacent rotational states of different parities. We show that the electric field can shift the position of the magnetic Feshbach resonance, and change the amplitude of resonance significantly. Finally, we demonstrate that, for narrow magnetic Feshbach resonance as in most cases of ultracold atom–molecule collision, the electric field may be used to modulate the resonance, because the width of resonance in electric field scale is relatively larger than that in magnetic field scale.     

Collisional stability of fermionic Feshbach molecules

Using a Feshbach resonance, we create ultracold fermionic molecules starting from a Bose-Fermi atom gas mixture. The resulting mixture of atoms and weakly bound molecules provides a rich system for studying few-body collisions because of the variety of atomic collision partners for molecules; either bosonic, fermionic, or distinguishable atoms. Inelastic loss of the molecules near the Feshbach resonance is dramatically affected by the quantum statistics of the colliding particles and the scattering length. In particular, we observe a molecule lifetime as long as 100 ms near the Feshbach resonance.     

Quantum interference effect of resonant transport in nano-scale systems

We propose a new method of analyzing the quantum interference effect of the resonant transport in ballistic open systems. The new method is to obtain the resonant eigenvalues by computing the norm of the retarded and advanced Green's functions. Using the method, we illustrate for a fullerene and an AB-ring the relation between each resonant state and each asymmetric conductance peak, namely the Fano peak. We show that the combination of resonant states determines the symmetry of a conductance peak and that the Fano peak is caused by the asymmetry of the numerator of the conductance around a resonance. The Fano peak appears not only due to the quantum interference effect as often claimed, but more generally due to the resonant transport.     

Fermionic atoms in a three dimensional optical lattice: observing Fermi surfaces, dynamics, and interactions

We have studied interacting and noninteracting quantum degenerate Fermi gases in a three-dimensional optical lattice. We directly image the Fermi surface of the atoms in the lattice by turning off the optical lattice adiabatically. Because of the confining potential, gradual filling of the lattice transforms the system from a normal state into a band insulator. The dynamics of the transition from a band insulator to a normal state is studied, and the time scale is measured to be an order of magnitude larger than the tunneling time in the lattice. Using a Feshbach resonance, we increase the interaction between atoms in two different spin states and dynamically induce a coupling between the lowest energy bands. We observe a shift of this coupling with respect to the Feshbach resonance in free space which is anticipated for strongly confined atoms.     

Quantum dots as scatterers in electronic transport: interference and correlations

Conductance through a system consisting of a wire with side-attached quantum dots is calculated. Such geometry of the device allows to study the coexistence of quantum interference, electron correlations and their influence on conductance. We underline the differences between ‘classical’ Fano resonance in which the resonant channel is of single-particle nature and ‘many-body’ Fano resonance with the resonant channel formed by Kondo effect. The influence of electron-electron interactions on the Fano resonance shape is also analyzed.     

Van der Waals interactions between atoms and dispersive surfaces at finite temperature

The long-range interactions between an atomic system in an arbitrary energy level and dispersive surfaces in thermal equilibrium at non-zero temperature are revisited within the framework of the quantum-mechanical linear response theory, using generalized susceptibilities for both atom and electromagnetic field. After defining the observables of interest, one presents a general analysis of the atomic level shift valid for any number and form of dielectric surfaces. It is shown that, at zero temperature, one recovers well-known results previously obtained in the linear response regime. The case of a plane dispersive surface is elaborated on in the non-retarded regime. Calculations are given in detail for a dielectric surface exhibiting a single polariton resonance. Theoretical predictions are presented within a physical viewpoint allowing one to discriminate between the various interaction processes: on one hand, the level shift induced by non-resonant quantum fluctuations, on the other hand, two potentially resonant atom-surface couplings. The first resonant process appears for excited-state atoms and originates in an atomic de-excitation channel resonantly coupled to the surface polariton mode. It exists also at zero temperature, and has been studied and observed previously. The second physical process, which exists at non-zero temperature only, corresponds to the reverse process in which a thermal quantum excitation of a surface polariton resonantly couples to an atomic absorption channel. This novel phenomenon is predicted as well for a ground state atom, and can turn the ordinary long-range van der Waals attraction of atoms into a surface repulsion at increasing temperatures. This opens the way to the control and engineering of the sign and amplitude of van der Waals forces via surface temperature adjustment.     

Shortcut to a Fermi-degenerate gas of molecules via cooperative association

We theoretically examine the creation of a Fermi-degenerate gas of molecules by considering a photoassociation or Feshbach resonance applied to a degenerate Bose-Fermi mixture of atoms. This problem raises interest because, unlike bosons, fermions in general do not behave cooperatively, so that the collective conversion of a degenerate gas atoms into a macroscopic number of diatomic molecules is not to be expected. Nevertheless, we find that the coupled Fermi system displays collective Rabi-like oscillations and a rapid adiabatic passage between atoms and molecules, thereby mimicking Bose-Einstein statistics. Cooperative association of a degenerate mixture of Bose and Fermi gases could therefore serve as a shortcut to a degenerate gas of Fermi molecules.