Photoassociative ionization in cold rubidium

Date

2008-05-06T14:15:34Z

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kansas State University

Abstract

Many people in the science community are interested in the prospect of cold molecules for such applications as quantum computing and molecular Bose-Einstein condensates. Current methods of production fall short of the requirements for such projects. Photo association is a promising technique for forming cold molecules, but is currently facing significant obstacles. By understanding the photo association process and utilizing higher excited states, it is hoped that cold molecules can be formed from more easily produced cold atoms. Photo associative Ionization (PAI) is presented as a means to study excited state molecular dynamics at large internuclear separation, including photo association. This thesis presents a number of techniques for studying PAI in cold rubidium and a number of results obtained with the techniques. Excitation pathways for the process are explored in both narrow linewidth (MHz) and ultrafast (fs), large bandwidth (20 nm) domains.

Description

Keywords

Photoassociation, Photoassociative ionization

Graduation Month

May

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Department of Physics

Major Professor

Brett D. DePaola

Date

2008

Type

Dissertation

Citation