Observation of coherent oscillations in the association of dimers from a thermal gas of ultracold atoms

We report the observation of coherent oscillations in conversion efficiency of weakly bound dimers formed from a thermal gas of ultracold atoms. Finite thermal energy of the gas causes loss of coherence when a broad continuum is resonantly coupled to a discrete bound state. Restoration of the coherence can be achieved through nonadiabatic transitions of the dressed molecular energy level that are induced by a strong modulation pulse with fast envelope dynamics. Conditions to observe coherent oscillations are verified and control of their properties is demonstrated. The main experimental findings are supported by theoretical modeling and numerical calculations. The observed results may lead to a renewed interest in general studies of a discrete energy level coupled to a broadband continuum when the properties of both are fully controlled.

Automated summary

We observe coherent oscillations in the conversion efficiency of weakly bound dimers formed from a thermal gas of ultracold atoms. The coherence is lost due to the finite thermal energy of the gas when a broad continuum is coupled to a discrete bound state. However, coherence can be restored through nonadiabatic transitions of the dressed molecular energy level induced by a strong modulation pulse. Experimental findings are supported by theoretical modeling and numerical calculations, and the results may lead to renewed interest in studying the interaction between a discrete energy level and a broadband continuum.