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Photoassociation of sodium in a Bose-Einstein condensate

C. McKenzie, J. Hecker Denschlag, H. Haeffner, A. Browaeys, Luis E. E. de Araujo, F. K. Fatemi, K. M. Jones, J. E. Simsarian, D. Cho, A. Simoni, E. Tiesinga, P. S. Julienne, K. Helmerson, P. D. Lett, S. L. Rolston, W. D. Phillips

cond-mat.mes-hallarXiv:cond-mat/0111501

Abstract

We report on the formation of ultra-cold Na2 molecules using single-photon photoassociation of a Bose-Einstein condensate. The photoassociation rate, linewidth and light shift of the J=1, v=135 vibrational level of the A1+u molecular bound state have been measured. We find that the photoassociation rate constant increases linearly with intensity, even where it is predicted that many-body effects might limit the rate. Our observations are everywhere in good agreement with a two-body theory having no free parameters.

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