Double-Resonance Spectroscopic Studies of Core-Penetrating Rydberg States of CaCl

Towards a rational design of laser-coolable molecules: insights from equation-of-motion coupled-cluster calculations

Access to cold molecules is critical for quantum information science, design of new sensors, ultracold chemistry, and search of new phenomena.

AC Stark Effect Observed in a Microwave-Millimeter/Submillimeter Wave Double-Resonance Experiment

Microwave-millimeter/submillimeter wave double-resonance spectroscopy has been developed with the use of technology typically employed in chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and fast-sweep direct absorption (sub)millimeter-wave spectroscopy. This technique offers the high sensitivity provided by millimeter/submillimeter fast-sweep techniques with the rapid data acquisition offered by chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometers. Rather than detecting the movement of population as is observed in a traditional double-resonance experiment, instead we detected the splitting of spectral lines arising from the AC Stark effect. This new technique will prove invaluable when assigning complicated rotational spectra of complex molecules. The experimental design is presented along with the results from the double-resonance spectra of methanol as a proof-of-concept for this technique.

Extensive theoretical study on electronically excited states of calcium monochloride: Molecular laser cooling and production of ultracold chlorine atoms

Nine doublet Λ-S states of calcium monochloride (CaCl) are calculated using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction method with the Davidson correction. Both the core subvalence and spin-orbit coupling effects are taken into account. Laser cooling of CaCl and production of ultracold chlorine atoms are investigated and assessed. Our computed spectroscopic constants and radiative lifetimes match the available experimental data very well. The determined Franck-Condon factors and vibrational branching ratios of the A(2)Π1/2(ν('))←X(2)Σ1/2 (+)(ν) transition are highly diagonally distributed and the evaluated radiative lifetime for the A(2)Π1/2(ν' = 0) state is 28.2 ns, which is short enough for rapid laser cooling. Subsequently, detection of cold molecules via resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization to determine the final quantum state populations is discussed and the ionization energy calculated. A multi-pulse excitation scheme is proposed for producing ultracold chlorine atoms from zero-energy photodissociation of the cooled CaCl. Our results demonstrate the possibility of producing ultracold CaCl molecules and Cl atoms.

Core-Penetrating Rydberg Series of BaF: Single-State and Two-State Fits of New Electronic States in the 4.4 </= n* </= 14.3 Region

We report results of optical-optical double-resonance studies of the Rydberg states of the BaF molecule in the energy region of E = 33 100-38 200 cm(-1) (4.4 </= n* </= 14.3). Barium monofluoride molecules have been produced in a resistively heated high-temperature oven from BaF(2) powder mixed with a small amount of boron powder. We have observed more than 50 new electronic states. Forty-nine of them have been rotationally analyzed and assigned to eight Rydberg series (four (2)Sigma(+), one (2)Pi, two (2)Delta, and one (2)Phi). Single-state and two-state fits have been carried out. Multiple local perturbations have been analyzed. Formation of supercomplexes in the Rydberg spectrum of BaF has been discussed. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

The Electronic Structure of CaCl: Calculation by R Matrix and Generalized Quantum Defect Theory

The electronic spectrum of CaCl has been calculated using the variational eigenchannel R-matrix method combined with generalized multichannel quantum defect theory. The motion of the unpaired (Rydberg) electron is represented as a double scattering process on the closed-shell Ca(++) and Cl(-) core ions. Electron penetration into Ca(++) is taken into account as well as polarization effects. The partial saturation of the Cl(-) free-ion polarizability is evaluated on the basis of an ab initio calculation of the dipole and quadrupole moments of the CaCl(+) ion core. The calculations reproduce the effective principal quantum numbers nu of the experimentally known states (including the ground state) to within approximately 0.04. States with high-orbital angular momentum up to l = 6 are predicted. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

The Predissociation Mechanism for 2Sigma+ Rydberg States of CaCl

This work summarizes experimental results from recent ion-dip spectroscopy studies of CaCl and from previously unpublished optical-optical double-resonance work with specific regard to predissociation processes of 2Sigma+ Rydberg states in the low n* (n* = 7, IP - En* = 2240 cm-1) region. A single repulsive state (assigned as 2Sigma+) was found to be responsible for all observed predissociations of 2Sigma+ Rydberg states. The n*-dependent internuclear distances of the intersections between Rydberg states and the repulsive 2Sigma+ state were determined through the use of trial-and-error Franck-Condon calculations. Values of energy-descaled electronic matrix elements governing the Rydberg left and right arrow repulsive state interaction were obtained from the measured linewidths (0.6 < Gamma < 1.2 cm-1) and computed Franck-Condon densities. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.