Heteronuclear molecules in an optical dipole trap

We report on the creation and characterization of heteronuclear K 40 R 87 b Feshbach molecules in an optical dipole trap. Starting from an ultracold gas mixture of K 40 and R 87 b atoms, we create as many as 25000 molecules at 300 nK by rf association. Optimizing the association process, we achieve a conversion efficiency of 25%. We measure the temperature dependence of the rf association process and find good agreement with a phenomenological model that has previously been applied to Feshbach molecule creation by slow magnetic-field sweeps. We also present a measurement of the binding energy of the heteronuclear molecules in the vicinity of the Feshbach resonance and provide evidence for Feshbach molecules as deeply bound as 26 MHz. © 2008 The American Physical Society.

Duke Scholars

Author Travis L Nicholson Physics