Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Experimental Methods for Trapping Ions Using Microfabricated Surface Ion Traps
Published on: August 17, 2017
Atom-molecule dark states in a Bose-Einstein condensate
K Winkler1, G Thalhammer, M Theis
1Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Abstract:
We have created a dark quantum superposition state of a Rb Bose-Einstein condensate and a degenerate gas of Rb2 ground-state molecules in a specific rovibrational state using two-color photo-association. As a signature for the decoupling of this coherent atom-molecule gas from the light field, we observe a striking suppression of photo-association loss. In our experiment the maximal molecule population in the dark state is limited to about 100 Rb2 molecules due to laser induced decay. The experimental findings can be well described by a simple three mode model.
Related Concept Videos
The Bohr Model
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Population Distribution
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
Molecular Orbital Theory II
The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

