High-precision spectroscopy of ultracold molecules in an optical lattice

Abstract

The study of ultracold molecules tightly trapped in an optical lattice can expand the frontier of precision measurement and spectroscopy, and provide a deeper insight into molecular and fundamental physics. Here we create, probe, and image microkelvin ^88 Sr _2 molecules in a lattice, and demonstrate precise measurements of molecular parameters as well as coherent control of molecular quantum states using optical fields. We discuss the sensitivity of the system to dimensional effects, a new bound-to-continuum spectroscopy technique for highly accurate binding energy measurements, and prospects for new physics with this rich experimental system.

Keywords

• ultracold molecules
• photoassociation
• photodissociation
• optical lattice
• molecular clock
• 37.10.Jk