Vibrational cooling of cesium molecules using noncoherent broadband light

Year: 2009

Authors: Sofikitis D., Horchani R., Li X., Pichler M., Allegrini M., Fioretti A., Comparat D.,
Pillet P.

Autors Affiliation: Laboratoire Aimé Cotton, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Bât. 505, 91405 Orsay, France; CNISM, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa, Largo Pontecorvo, 356127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We demonstrate selective vibrational population transfer in cold cesium dimers using a simple approach based on the use of a shaped incoherent broadband diode laser near threshold. Optical pumping into a single vibrational level is accomplished with an incoherent light source by eliminating transitions from the targeted vibrational level. The broadband spectrum of the laser is wide enough to electronically excite several vibrational states of the molecule simultaneously. This method is relatively inexpensive, simple, and flexible to allow for development of new applications, in particular, the preparation of optically closed molecular system, opening the way to direct laser cooling of molecules.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 80 (5)      Pages from: 051401  to: 051401

More Information: We thank S. Weber and B. Chatel for stimulating discussions and Matthieu Barachant for the help with the diode operation. This work was supported by the \”Institut Francilien de Recherche sur les Atomes Froids\” (IFRAF). M. P. acknowledges sabbatical support at the Laboratoire Aime Cotton from Goucher College. A. F. and M. P. was supported by the \” Triangle de la Physique\” under Contracts No. 2007-n.74T \”GULFSTREAM\” and No, 2008-n.07T \”QCCM\” (Quantum Control of Cold Molecules). M. A. thanks the EC-Network EMALI, the \”Universitat Franco-Italienne\” (Galileo Project) and the partnership between the Universite Paris Sud and the University of Pisa (COGITO).
KeyWords: caesium; laser cooling; optical pumping; population inversion; semiconductor lasers
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.051401

Citations: 21
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