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  1. Abstract Molecules with unstable isotopes often contain heavy and deformed nuclei and thus possess a high sensitivity to parity-violating effects, such as the Schiff moments. Currently the best limits on Schiff moments are set with diamagnetic atoms. Polar molecules with quantum-enhanced sensing capabilities, however, can offer better sensitivity. In this work, we consider the prototypical 223 Fr 107 Ag molecule, as the octupole deformation of the unstable 223 Fr francium nucleus amplifies the nuclear Schiff moment of the molecule by two orders of magnitude relative to that of spherical nuclei and as the silver atom has a large electron affinity. To develop a competitive experimental platform based on molecular quantum systems, 223 Fr atoms and 107 Ag atoms have to be brought together at ultracold temperatures. That is, we explore the prospects of forming 223 Fr 107 Ag from laser-cooled Fr and Ag atoms. We have performed fully relativistic electronic-structure calculations of ground and excited states of FrAg that account for the strong spin-dependent relativistic effects of Fr and the strong ionic bond to Ag. In addition, we predict the nearest-neighbor densities of magnetic-field Feshbach resonances in ultracold 223 Fr + 107 Ag collisions with coupled-channel calculations. These resonances can be used for magneto-association into ultracold, weakly-bound FrAg. We also determine the conditions for creating 223 Fr 107 Ag molecules in their absolute ground state from these weakly-bound dimers via stimulated Raman adiabatic passage using our calculations of the relativistic transition electric dipole moments. 
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  2. Abstract The electronic structure of magnetic lanthanide atoms is fascinating from a fundamental perspective. They have electrons in a submerged open 4f shell lying beneath a filled 6s shell with strong relativistic correlations leading to a large magnetic moment and large electronic orbital angular momentum. This large angular momentum leads to strong anisotropies, i. e. orientation dependencies, in their mutual interactions. The long-ranged molecular anisotropies are crucial for proposals to use ultracold lanthanide atoms in spin-based quantum computers, the realization of exotic states in correlated matter, and the simulation of orbitronics found in magnetic technologies. Short-ranged interactions and bond formation among these atomic species have thus far not been well characterized. Efficient relativistic computations are required. Here, for the first time we theoretically determine the electronic and ro-vibrational states of heavy homonuclear lanthanide Er 2 and Tm 2 molecules by applying state-of-the-art relativistic methods. In spite of the complexity of their internal structure, we were able to obtain reliable spin–orbit and correlation-induced splittings between the 91 Er 2 and 36 Tm 2 electronic potentials dissociating to two ground-state atoms. A tensor analysis allows us to expand the potentials between the atoms in terms of a sum of seven spin–spin tensor operators simplifying future research. The strengths of the tensor operators as functions of atom separation are presented and relationships among the strengths, derived from the dispersive long-range interactions, are explained. Finally, low-lying spectroscopically relevant ro-vibrational energy levels are computed with coupled-channels calculations and analyzed. 
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  3. Abstract

    Perfectly controlled molecules are at the forefront of the quest to explore chemical reactivity at ultra low temperatures. Here, we investigate for the first time the formation of the long-lived intermediates in the time-dependent scattering of cold bialkali$$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$23Na87Rb molecules with and without the presence of infrared trapping light. During the nearly 50 nanoseconds mean collision time of the intermediate complex, we observe unconventional roaming when for a few tens of picoseconds either NaRb or$$\hbox {Na}_2$$Na2and$$\hbox {Rb}_2$$Rb2molecules with large relative separation are formed before returning to the four-atom complex. We also determine the likelihood of molecular loss when the trapping laser is present during the collision. We find that at a wavelength of 1064 nm the$$\hbox {Na}_2\hbox {Rb}_2$$Na2Rb2complex is quickly destroyed and thus that the$$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$23Na87Rb molecules are rapidly lost.

     
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  4. We present progress in demonstrating Rydberg interactions between a single Rb and a single Cs atom simultaneously trapped in a single 1064 nm optical tweezer. Rydberg levels in heteronuclear systems have different quantum defects, as opposed to homonuclear systems, and can therefore be chosen to minimize the Forster defect and increase the Rydberg interaction strength beyond symmetric Rydberg pairs at comparable energy levels. Additionally, multispecies systems are distinguishable and can be frequency multiplexed in a straightforward manner, enabling crosstalk free ancilla measurements for quantum error correction. To determine the feasibility of co-trapped heteronuclear samples for quantum information and communication applications, we also measure the heteronuclear collision rates between single Rb and single Cs atoms and resolve differences in the hyperfine collision rates. Photoassociation rate of the atoms into a molecular state via the 1064 nm trap laser is also measured. 
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