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Controlling the Scattering Length of Ultracold Dipolar Molecules
Lucas Lassablière1, Goulven Quéméner1
1Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, ENS Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
Physical Review Letters
|November 3, 2018
Summary
By tuning microwave fields, researchers can control molecular interactions. This method engineers potential wells, enabling precise tuning of the molecule-molecule scattering length for ultracold molecule physics.
Area of Science:
- Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
- Quantum Many-Body Physics
- Ultracold Gases and Plasmas
Background:
- Ultracold molecules offer unique platforms for exploring quantum phenomena due to their rich internal structure and strong dipole moments.
- Controlling molecule-molecule interactions is crucial for advancing ultracold molecule research, analogous to advancements in ultracold atom systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of microwave fields to engineer long-range potential wells for colliding dipolar molecules.
- To demonstrate the ability to tune the molecule-molecule scattering length by controlling the depth of these engineered potential wells.
- To explore the potential for achieving high elastic to quenching ratios in ultracold molecule collisions.
Main Methods:
- Application of a circularly polarized, blue-detuned microwave field to the first excited rotational state of dipolar molecules.
- Theoretical modeling using an adimensional approach with a rescaled rotational constant (B̃ = B/s_{E3}).
- Analysis of the molecule-molecule scattering length as a function of the applied microwave field strength.
Main Results:
- Engineered long-range potential wells that can support bound states, enabling control over the scattering length.
- Demonstrated tuning of the molecule-molecule scattering length from large negative to large positive values.
- Identified conditions (B̃ > 10^8) where molecules are immune to quenching losses with sufficient applied ac field, achieving elastic to quenching ratios > 10^3.
Conclusions:
- Microwave field control provides a powerful tool for manipulating ultracold molecule interactions and scattering properties.
- The ability to tune the scattering length opens new avenues for creating and studying strongly correlated many-body physics with ultracold molecules.
- This technique offers a pathway to overcome loss mechanisms, paving the way for more robust ultracold molecule experiments.
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