Laser cooling of rotation and vibration by optical pumping

Manai, I. and Horchani, R. and Hamamda, M. and Fioretti, A. and Allegrini, M. and Lignier, H. and Pillet, P. and Comparat, D. (2013) Laser cooling of rotation and vibration by optical pumping. Molecular Physics . ISSN 0026-8976

Abstract

SUMMARY We have recently demonstrated that optical pumping methods combined with photoassociation of ultra-cold atoms can produce ultra-cold and dense samples of molecules in their absolute rovibronic ground state. More generally, both the external and internal degrees of freedom can be cooled by addressing selected rovibrational levels on demand. Here, we recall the basic concepts and main steps of our experiments, including the excitation schemes and detection techniques we use to achieve the rovibrational cooling of Cs2 molecules. In addition, we present the determination of formation pathways and a theoretical analysis explaining the experimental observations. These simulations improves the spectroscopic knowledge required to transfer molecules to any desired rovibrational level.

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