Born–Oppenheimer breakdown in a combined-isotopomer analysis of the A 1Σu+–X 1Σg+ system of Li2

Characteristic footprints of an exceptional point in the dynamics of Li dimer under a laser field

Non-hermitian quantum mechanics is a formalism that excels in describing time-dependent states such as resonances. As one, it opens up a window to explore new and undiscovered phenomena. Under this formalism coalescence of two eigenstates and a deficient spectrum are a possible situation. These situations are unique and can occur solely in specific conditions known as Exceptional Points (EPs). An EP holds unique characteristics. One of which is a switch-like behavior: upon adiabatically changing the conditions in a closed loop around the EP, the population of one resonance can be transferred completely to another resonance. The phenomenon was not experimentally observed in an atomic or molecular system so far, although experiments involving nonlinear PT symmetry optics and microwave cavities have already indicated its existence. In this work, we demonstrate and confirm that the switch-like behavior exists in the spectrum of a lithium dimer taking into account both the rotations and the vibrations of the system. Moreover, a footprint of the EP is also shown to exist in the photo-association process of the lithium dimer. In this process, the EP's resonances serve as the mean to associate two free lithium atoms into a dimer. Based on this, we suggest a corresponding experiment to demonstrate for the first time the EP phenomenon in a molecular system.

New spectroscopic data, spin-orbit functions, and global analysis of data on the AΣu+1 and bΠu3 states of Na2

The lowest electronically excited states of Na2 are of interest as intermediaries in the excitation of higher states and in the development of methods for producing cold molecules. We have compiled previously obtained spectroscopic data on the A 1Sigmau+ and b 3Piu states of Na2 from about 20 sources, both published and unpublished, together with new sub-Doppler linewidth measurements of about 15,000 A<--X transitions using polarization spectroscopy. We also present new ab initio results for the diagonal and off-diagonal spin-orbit functions. The discrete variable representation is used in conjunction with Hund's case a potentials plus spin-orbit effects to model data extending from v=0 to very close to the 3 2S+3 2P12 limit. Empirical estimates of the spin-orbit functions agree well with the ab initio functions for the accessible values of R. The potential function for the A state includes an exchange potential for S+P atoms, with a fitted coefficient somewhat larger than the predicted value. Observed and calculated term values are presented in an auxiliary (EPAPS) file as a database for future studies on Na2.

Ab initio study of low-lying triplet states of the lithium dimer

Observation of Bose-Einstein condensation in Li27 initiated the interest in the scattering length of two ground state lithium atoms when they approach each other as a radical pair triplet aSigmau+3 state. But some properties of this state are still unknown. In present work, a number of low-lying triplet states of lithium molecule are calculated by multi-configuration self-consistent field (MCSCF) and response techniques with account of spin-orbit coupling, spin-spin coupling and some other magnetic perturbations. The singlet-triplet transition probabilities to the ground state are also presented. Most results are connected with the weakly bound lowest triplet a3Sigmau+ state, whose radiative lifetime and spin-splitting are unknown so far in spite of its great importance in Bose-Einstein condensation. Calculations indicate that this state has a very small spin-splitting, lambdass=-0.01 cm-1, which is negligible in comparison with the line-width in experimental Fourier transform spectra published so far. Similar splitting is obtained for the upper state of the 1(3)Sigmag+--a3Sigmau+ transition. This is in agreement with experimental rovibronic analysis of the 1(3)Sigmag+--a3Sigmau+ band system in which the triplet structure was not resolved. The radiative lifetime of the a3Sigmau+ state is predicted to exceed 10 h.

Isotope effects and Born-Oppenheimer breakdown in excited singlet states of the lithium dimer

Observation of infrared electronic transitions involving the 1 (1)Deltag state of 7Li2 has instigated an investigation of Born-Oppenheimer breakdown in four singlet electronic states correlating with (2s+2s), (2s+2p), and (2p+2p) lithium atoms. The 1 (1)Deltag state, which correlates at long range with (2p+2p) atoms, has been observed in emission from the (5p) (1)Piu Rydberg state and in 1 (1)Deltag-B (1)Piu bands, in both instances following optical-optical double-resonance excitation. The latter transition was observed previously for the lighter isotopomer, 6Li2 [C. Linton, F. Martin, P. Crozet, A. J. Ross, and R. Bacis, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 158, 445 (1993)]. By analyzing multiple-isotopomer data for several electronic systems simultaneously, we have determined the electronic isotope shifts and the leading vibrational and/or rotational Born-Oppenheimer breakdown terms for the X (1)Sigmag+, A (1)Sigmau+, B (1)Piu, and 1 (1)Deltag states of the lithium dimer. This paper also reports Fourier transform measurements of the B-X absorption spectra of 6Li2 and 7Li2, which were required to better define the bottom portion of the B (1)Piu state potential.