Feshbach-optimized photoassociation controlled by electric and magnetic fields

Abstract

We study theoretically the Feshbach-optimized photoassociation of the $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ atoms driven by electric and magnetic fields. The results show that the combination of electric and magnetic fields can significantly enhance the photoassociation rate by regulating scattering resonance and increasing the probability density of atom pairs at sufficiently short internuclear distance. The electric field can induce the coupling between the $s$ wave and $p$ wave and makes it possible to directly produce ultracold molecules in the lowest rotational state via one-photon stimulated emission photoassociation at ultralow temperature. Moreover, in the presence of a magnetic field, only a relatively weak electric field ($E\ensuremath{\le}100$ kV/cm) is required to realize the scattering resonance for heteronuclear alkali-metal atom pairs.