Investigation of ultracold atomic collisions: trap loss mechanisms and photoassociation spectroscopy.

Author(s)

Gustavo Deczka Telles

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2002-12-18

Examining board members

Luis Gustavo Marcassa; Marco Aurelio Pinheiro Lima; Luiz Eugenio Machado; Reginaldo de Jesus Napolitano; José Wellington Rocha Tabosa

• Advisor: Luis Gustavo Marcassa

Abstract

We report the results concerning to two main subjects of laser cooling and trapping community. We begin by presenting the results of modeling two-body trap loss rates as a function of the trap laser intensity. We show that one can merge two simple theories to obtain a semiclassical and semi-analytical model which is able to provide the fundamental properties observed in the experimental results found in the literature. Hence, we concluded that the essential features of the two-body trap loss rates taking place in MOTs are now well understood. On the other hand, we run a set of experiments trying to produce and detect heteronuclear diatomic ultracold molecules. Although this has not been accomplished yet, we have acquired a wide and rich amount of data that will certainly be very helpful for continuing and concluding the work here started. In the near future the photoassociation spectroscopy of ultracold heteronuclear diatomic molecules will provide valuable information to help in its manipulation. (AU)