Reaction microscope for investigating ionization dynamics of weakly bound alkali dimers

We report on the implementation of a far-off-resonant, optical dipole force trap in a reaction microscope combined with a magneto-optical trap. Kinematically complete multi-photon ionization experiments were performed on optically trapped Li-6 atoms and photo-associated Li-6(2) molecules in their highest vibrational state. The apparatus allows us to distinguish different ionization mechanisms related to the presence of the IR field of the optical dipole trap that can occur during ionization of Li-6 and Li-6(2) in strong fields. In a series of proof-of-principle experiments, we detect weakly bound dimers via three-photon ionization with femtosecond pulses (tau = 30 fs) at a central wavelength of 780 nm and measure directly the momenta of the photoelectrons in coincidence with recoil ions. Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

We implemented a far-off-resonant, optical dipole force trap in a reaction microscope combined with a magneto-optical trap and conducted kinematically complete multi-photon ionization experiments. The experiments allowed us to distinguish different ionization mechanisms and successfully detected weakly bound dimers using three-photon ionization with 30 femtosecond pulses.