Published April 1997 | Version v1
Journal article

Vibrational State Distribution of Na2+ Ions Created in Ultracold Collisions

  • 1. Debye Institute, Department of Atomic and Interface Physics, Utrecht University, P.O.Box 80.000, 3508 TA Utrecht (The Netherlands)

Description

The vibrational distribution P(v) of Na2+ ions created in ultracold collisions in a magneto-optical trap has been determined. Only two vibrational states with v=2and3 are populated and we find P(2)=0.29±0.02 and P(3)=0.71±0.02. The results provide conclusive evidence that the ionization mechanism is photoassociative autoionization, and not photoassociative photoionization, and will form a fundamental test for the theoretical description of the process. copyright 1997 The American Physical Society

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review Letters
Journal Volume
78
Journal Issue
16
Journal Page Range
p. 3089-3092.
ISSN
0031-9007
CODEN
PRLTAO

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
28065934
Subject category
S74: ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
DISTRIBUTION; IONIZATION; MAGNETO-OPTICAL EFFECTS; PHOTOIONIZATION; SODIUM IONS; TRAPS; VIBRATIONAL STATES
Descriptors DEC
CHARGED PARTICLES; ENERGY LEVELS; EXCITED STATES; IONS