FORMATION OF COLD CS-2 MOLECULES THROUGH PHOTOASSOCIATION

We have performed photoassociative spectroscopy of cold Cs atoms in a vapor-cell magnetooptical trap, within 10 cm(-1) below the dissociatio n limit 6s(2)S(1/2) + 6p P-2(3/2) Our detection method is based on pul sed-laser photoionization of Cs-2 molecules, selectively detected thro ugh a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Temporal and spatial analysis of Cs-2(+) ions show for the first time the formation of translational ly cold Cs-2 triplet ground state molecules, at a temperature T simila r to 300 mu K.