Special review lecture - Photoassociation of ultracold atoms: A new spectroscopic technique

The new spectroscopic technique of photoassociation of ultracold atoms is r eviewed, with an emphasis on connecting this area to traditional bound-stat e molecular spectroscopy. In particular, in contrast to photoassociative sp ectra at thermal energies, which are broad and of low information content, photoassociative spectra of ultracold atoms are high resolution, permitting observation of small vibrational and rotational spacings of long-range mol ecular levels near dissociation (typically with outer classical turning poi nts >20 Angstrom). The types of detection and theoretical analysis employed are illustrated, primarily using the example of K-39(2). Future directions and applications of this field (e.g., to ultracold molecular formation) ar e also discussed, (C) 1999 Academic Press.