2009/12/20 by V. Bendkowsky, Vera Bendkowsky, B. Butscher +17 · 141 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Chemical Physics Studies #Atomic physics #Bound state #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Excited state #Ionization #Physics #Quantum #Quantum mechanics #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Reflection (computer programming) #Rydberg formula #physics.atom-ph #physics.chem-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.105.163201
published in Physical Review Letters 105(16), 163201 (American Physical Society) · 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 table
arxiv created 2009/12/20 · openalex publication_date 2010/10/12 · arxiv updated 2011/02/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
In a combined experimental and theoretical effort we report on two novel types of ultracold long-range Rydberg molecules. First, we demonstrate the creation of triatomic molecules of one Rydberg atom and two ground-state atoms in a single-step photoassociation. Second, we assign a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop. The properties of the Rydberg molecules identified in this work qualify them as prototypes for a new type of chemistry at ultracold temperatures.