Atom-molecule collisions in an optically trapped gas

Cold inelastic collisions between confined cesium (Cs) atoms and Cs-2 molecules are investigated inside a CO2 laser dipole trap. Inelastic atom-molecule collisions can be observed and measured with a rate coefficient of similar to 2.6x10(-11) cm(3) s(-1), mainly independent of the molecular rovibrational state populated. Lifetimes of purely atomic and molecular samples are essentially limited by rest gas collisions. The pure molecular trap lifetime ranges 0.3-1 s, 4 times smaller than the atomic one, as is also observed in a pure magnetic trap. We give an estimation of the inelastic molecule-molecule collision rate to be similar to 10(-11) cm(3) s(-1).