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arXiv · 2009.00147

Pair Correlations and Photoassociation Dynamics of Two Atoms in an Optical Tweezer

M. Weyland·S. S. Szigeti·R. A. B. Hobbs·P. Ruksasakchai·L. Sanchez·M. F. Andersen
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Abstract

We investigate the photoassociation dynamics of exactly two laser-cooled $^{85}$Rb atoms in an optical tweezer and reveal fundamentally different behavior to photoassociation in many-atom ensembles. We observe non-exponential decay in our two-atom experiment that cannot be described by a single rate coefficient and find its origin in our system's pair correlation. This is in stark contrast to many-atom photoassociation dynamics, which are governed by exponential decay with a single rate coefficient. We also investigate photoassociation in a three-atom system, thereby probing the transition from two-atom dynamics to many-atom dynamics. Our experiments reveal additional reaction dynamics that are only accessible through the control of single atoms and suggest photoassociation could measure pair correlations in few-atom systems. It further showcases our complete control over the quantum state of individual atoms and molecules, which provides information unobtainable from many-atom experiments.

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M. Weyland, S. S. Szigeti, R. A. B. Hobbs, P. Ruksasakchai, L. Sanchez, M. F. Andersen. 2020-08-31. Pair Correlations and Photoassociation Dynamics of Two Atoms in an Optical Tweezer. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.126.083401

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