Production of RbCs Molecules in the Rovibronic Ground State via Short‐Range Photoassociation to the 2 ¹Π₁, 2 ³Π₁, and 3 ³Σ States

Abstract

We report the production of ultracold ⁸⁵ Rb¹³³ Cs molecules in their rovibronic ground state X ¹ Σ⁺ (v=0; J=0), by short-range photoassociation (PA) to the 2 ¹ Π₁ , 2 ³ Π₁ , and 3 ³ Σ1+ states. In the PA frequency range from 11650 to 12150 cm^-1 (corresponding to energy levels 15500-16000 cm^-1 above the bottom of the X potential), we have observed 40 sets of new PA lines. For selected PA states, we investigate vibrational branching, rotational branching, and saturation behavior. Among these 40 new PA lines, the 3 ³ Σ1+ (v=3) state has the highest molecule production rate of 2 x 10³ molecules s^-1 into the rovibronic ground state.