Research Team Members

Josh J. Zirbel
Kang-Kuen Ni

Brian Neyenhuis

Research

Our initial efforts to use a Feshbach resonance to form KRb molecules from a mixture of ⁴⁰K and ⁸⁷Rb atoms produced very weakly bound KRb molecules. Because these large molecules form in the highest energy bound state, their constituent atoms are very far apart. This makes it easy for them to decay to a more tightly bound molecule (and heat up) in collisions with other atoms or molecules.

Josh Zirbel explores ways to use electric-field resonances to tune the properties of KRb molecules

Our current experiments are designed to bring the atoms in ultracold KRb molecules closer together in a more deeply bound state. We will use a variety of lasers to drive the atoms into more deeply bound states, with a goal of reaching the stable ground state of these molecules.

In collaboration with Jun Ye's group at JILA, we are developing coherent control techniques to push KRb molecules into their absolute ground state. KRb molecules have an electric dipole moment in their ground state.