Jp. Shaffer et al., Photoassociative ionization of heteronuclear molecules in a novel two-species magneto-optical trap, PHYS REV L, 82(6), 1999, pp. 1124-1127
We describe the experimental observation of ultracold NaCs+ molecular forma
tion in a novel two-species magneto-optical trap. We interpret our observat
ions in terms of a photoassociative ionization pathway similar to that obse
rved in a sodium trap: Na + Cs + (h) over bar omega(Na) + (h) over bar omeg
a(Cs) --> NaCs+ + e(-). We have directly measured the: NaCs+ production rat
e as a function of the excitation laser frequency and intensity elucidating
the role of ground-state hyperfine levels. We have observed resonance stru
ctures in the frequency-dependent ion rate which we associate with the mole
cular character of the process, [S0031-9007(98)08234-9].