Polarizability of ultracold $\textrm{Rb}_2$ molecules in the rovibrational ground state of $\mathrm{a}^3\Sigma_u^+$

Abstract

We study, both theoretically and experimentally, the dynamical polarizability $\alpha(\omega)$ of $\textrm{Rb}_2$ molecules in the rovibrational ground state of $\mathrm{a}^3\Sigma_u^+$. Taking all relevant excited molecular bound states into account, we compute the complex-valued polarizability $\alpha(\omega)$ for wave numbers up to $20000\:\textrm{cm}^{-1}$. Our calculations are compared to experimental results at $1064.5\:\textrm{nm}$ ($\sim9400\:\textrm{cm}^{-1}$) as well as at $830.4\:\textrm{nm}$ ($\sim12000\:\textrm{cm}^{-1}$). Here, we discuss the measurements at $1064.5\:\textrm{nm}$. The ultracold $\textrm{Rb}_2$ molecules are trapped in the lowest Bloch band of a 3D optical lattice. Their polarizability is determined by lattice modulation spectroscopy which measures the potential depth for a given light intensity. Moreover, we investigate the decay of molecules in the optical lattice, where lifetimes of more than $2\:\textrm{s}$ are observed. In addition, the dynamical polarizability for the $\mathrm{X}^1\Sigma_g^+$ state is calculated. We provide simple analytical expressions that reproduce the numerical results for $\alpha(\omega)$ for all vibrational levels of $\mathrm{a}^3\Sigma_u^+$ as well as $\mathrm{X}^1\Sigma_g^+$. Precise knowledge of the molecular polarizability is essential for designing experiments with ultracold molecules as lifetimes and lattice depths are key parameters. Specifically the wavelength at $\sim1064\:\textrm{nm}$ is of interest, since here, ultrastable high power lasers are available.