Photoassociative Spectroscopy of $^{87}$Sr


Abstract in English

We demonstrate photoassociation (PA) of ultracold fermionic $^{87}$Sr atoms. The binding energies of a series of molecular states on the $^1Sigma^+_u$ $5s^2,^1$S$_0+5s5p,^1$P$_1$ molecular potential are fit with the semiclassical LeRoy-Bernstein model, and PA resonance strengths are compared to predictions based on the known $^1$S$_0+^1$S$_0$ ground state potential. Similar measurements and analysis were performed for the bosonic isotopes $^{84}$Sr and $^{86}$Sr, allowing a combined analysis of the long-range portion of the excited-state potential and determination of the $5s5p,^1$P$_1$ atomic state lifetime of $5.20 pm 0.02$ ns. The results enable prediction of PA rates across a wide range of experimental conditions.

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