Interactions of cold atoms and ultrafast laser pulses

We report experimental progress of the interaction between cold trapped atoms and ultrafast laser pulses. At the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, we use a Spectra-Physics Millennia laser to pump a KM Labs Ti:Sappire laser which produces pulses with duration of about 30 fs at a wavelength of 800 nm at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Investigations of the interactions of these ultrafast laser pulses with 300 micro K Rb atoms produced in a magneto optical trap are underway. We look for various processes of molecular photo-association which include formation, distribution of populations, and alignment. The diagnostic system and the specific photo-association process will be described in detail.