Making molecules by mergoassociation: Two atoms in adjacent nonspherical optical traps

Bird, Robert C.; Le Sueur, C. Ruth; Hutson, Jeremy M.

Abstract

Mergoassociation of two ultracold atoms to form a weakly bound molecule can occur when two optical traps that each contain a single atom are merged. Molecule formation occurs at an avoided crossing between a molecular state and the lowest motional state of the atom pair. We develop the theory of mergoassociation for pairs of nonidentical nonspherical traps. We develop a coupled-channel approach for the relative motion of the two atoms and present results for pairs of cylindrically symmetrical traps as a function of their anisotropy. We focus on the strength of the avoided crossing responsible for mergoassociation. We also develop an approximate method that gives insight into the dependence of the crossing strength on aspect ratio.

Citation

Bird, R. C., Le Sueur, C. R., & Hutson, J. M. (2023). Making molecules by mergoassociation: Two atoms in adjacent nonspherical optical traps. Physical Review Research, 5(4), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.5.043086

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 26, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-12
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 10, 2023
• Journal: Physical Review Research
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.5.043086
• Keywords: General Physics and Astronomy
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1903741