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Hyperfine-resolved optical spectroscopy of ultracold $^{87}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules: the $\mathrm{b}\,^3\Pi_0$ metastable state

Atomic Physics 2026-02-09 v2 Quantum Gases Quantum Physics

Abstract

Using an ultracold gas of 87^{87}Rb133^{133}Cs molecules, we perform hyperfine-resolved spectroscopy of transitions from the vibronic ground state to the lowest rovibrational states of the electronic state b3Π0\mathrm{b}\,^3\Pi_0, as a function of magnetic field. These transitions are spin forbidden, resulting in narrow linewidths, and feature near-diagonal Franck-Condon factors. We develop a model of the hyperfine and Zeeman structure that includes coupling between the 0+0^+ and 00^- components of b3Π0\mathrm{b}\,^3\Pi_0. We fit the spectra to obtain rotational and hyperfine coupling constants. We measure transition dipole moments associated with specific transitions by directly observing Rabi oscillations as a function of a resonant laser pulse duration. Using resonant π\pi pulses, we prepare molecules in the electronically excited state and directly measure the spontaneous emission rate.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2510.24660,
  title  = {Hyperfine-resolved optical spectroscopy of ultracold $^{87}$Rb$^{133}$Cs molecules: the $\mathrm{b}\,^3\Pi_0$ metastable state},
  author = {Arpita Das and Albert Li Tao and Luke M. Fernley and Fritz von Gierke and Philip D. Gregory and Simon L. Cornish and Jeremy M. Hutson and Romain Vexiau and Olivier Dulieu},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.24660},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

14 pages, 7 figures