Associative ionization in a dilute ultracold $^7$Li gas probed with a hybrid trap

• Main Authors: Joshi, N, Mahendrakar, Vaibhav, Niranjan, M, Yadav, Raghuveer Singh, Krishnakumar, E, Pandey, A, Vexiau, R, Dulieu, O, Rangwala, S. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 02.11.2024
• Subjects: Physics - Atomic and Molecular Clusters; Physics - Atomic Physics; Physics - Chemical Physics; Physics - Quantum Gases
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2411.01209

The formation of Li$_2^+$ and subsequently Li$^+$ ions, during the excitation of $^7$Li atoms to the $3S_{1/2}$ state in a $^7$Li magneto optical trap (MOT), is probed in an ion-atom hybrid trap. Associative ionization occurs during the collision of Li($2P_{3/2}$) and Li($3S_{1/2}$) ultracold atoms, creating Li$_2^+$ ions. Photodissociation of Li$_2^+$ by the MOT lasers is an active channel for the conversion of Li$_2^+$ to Li$^+$. A fraction of the Li$_2^+$ ions is long lived even in the presence of MOT light. Additionally, rapid formation of Li$^+$ from Li$_2^+$ in the absence of MOT light is observed. Resonant excitation of ultracold atoms, resulting in intricate molecular dynamics, reveals important processes in ultracold dilute gases.