Cold rubidium molecules formed in a magneto-optical trap

Phys Rev Lett. 2000 Mar 27;84(13):2814-7. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2814.

Abstract

We report the first observation of translationally cold ( approximately 90 &mgr;K) Rb2 molecules. They are produced in a magneto-optical trap in their triplet ground state. The detection is performed by selective mass spectroscopy after two-photon ionization into Rb+2, resonantly enhanced through the intermediate a (3)Sigma(+)(u)-->2 (3)Pi(g) molecular band. The two rubidium isotopes present very different types of behavior that are interpreted in terms of their respective collisional properties.