No Arabic abstract
We demonstrate the ability to coherently control ultracold atomic Rb collisions using frequency-chirped light on the nanosecond time scale. For certain center frequencies of the chirp, the rate of inelastic trap-loss collisions induced by negatively chirped light is dramatically suppressed compared to the case of a positive chirp. We attribute this to a fundamental asymmetry in the system: an excited wavepacket always moves inward on the attractive molecular potential. For a positive chirp, the resonance condition moves outward in time, while for a negative chirp, it moves inward, in the same direction as the excited wavepacket; this allows multiple interactions between the wavepacket and the light, enabling the wavepacket to be returned coherently to the ground state. Classical and quantum calculations support this interpretation.
We show that quantum interference-based coherent control is a highly efficient tool for tuning ultracold molecular collision dynamics, and is free from the limitations of commonly used methods that rely on external electromagnetic fields. By varying {the relative populations and} phases of an initial coherent superpositions of degenerate molecular states, we demonstrate complete coherent control over integral scattering cross sections in the ultracold $s$-wave regime of both the initial and final collision channels. The proposed control methodology is applied to ultracold O$_2$~+~O$_2$ collisions, showing extensive control over $s$-wave spin-exchange cross sections and product branching ratios over many orders of magnitude.
We report on the dynamics of ultracold collisions induced by near-resonant frequency-chirped light. A series of identical chirped pulses, separated by a variable delay, is applied to an ultracold sample of 85Rb, and the rate of inelastic trap-loss collisions is measured. For small detunings of the chirped light below the atomic resonance, we observe that the rate of collisions induced by a given pulse can be increased by the presence of an earlier pulse. We attribute this to the enhancement of short-range collisional flux by the long-range excitation of atom pairs to an attractive molecular potential. For larger detunings and short delays, we find that a leading pulse can suppress the rate of collisions caused by a following pulse. This is due to a depletion of short-range atom pairs by the earlier pulse. Comparison of our data to classical Monte-Carlo simulations of the collisions yields reasonable agreement.
We have demonstrated microwave-assisted coherent control of ultracold $^{85}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules with a ladder-type configuration of rotational states. A probe microwave (MW) field is used to couple a lower state $X^1Sigma^+(v=0, J=1)$ and a middle state $X^1Sigma^+(v=0, J=2)$, while a control MW field couples the middle state and a upper state $X^1Sigma^+(v=0, J=3)$. In the presence of the control field, the population of middle rotational states, $X^1Sigma^+(v=0, J=2)$, can be reduced by a control MW field. Broadening of spectral splitting and shift of central frequency in this coherent spectrum are observed to be dependent on Rabi frequency of the control MW field. Applying Akaikes information criterion, we conclude that our observed coherent spectra happen through the crossover range of electromagnetically induced transparency and Aulter-Townes splitting as Rabi frequency of control field increases. Our work is a significant development in microwave-assisted quantum control of ultracold polar molecules with multilevel configuration, and also offers a great potential in quantum information based on ultracold molecules.
We show that coherent multiple light scattering, or diffuse light propagation, in a disordered atomic medium, prepared at ultra-low temperatures, can be be effectively delayed in the presence of a strong control field initiating a stimulated Raman process. On a relatively short time scale, when the atomic system can preserve its configuration and effects of atomic motion can be ignored, the scattered signal pulse, diffusely propagating via multiple coherent scattering through the medium, can be stored in the spin subsystem through its stimulated Raman-type conversion into spin coherence. We demonstrate how this mechanism, potentially interesting for developing quantum memories, would work for the example of a coherent light pulse propagating through an alkali-metal atomic vapor under typical conditions attainable in experiments with ultracold atoms.
Photodissociation of a molecule produces a spatial distribution of photofragments determined by the molecular structure and the characteristics of the dissociating light. Performing this basic chemical reaction at ultracold temperatures allows its quantum mechanical features to dominate. In this regime, weak applied fields can be used to control the reaction. Here, we photodissociate ultracold diatomic strontium in magnetic fields below 10 G and observe striking changes in photofragment angular distributions. The observations are in excellent qualitative agreement with a multichannel quantum chemistry model that includes nonadiabatic effects and predicts strong mixing of partial waves in the photofragment energy continuum. The experiment is enabled by precise quantum-state control of the molecules.