Observation of dipolar collisions in a near quantum-degenerate gas of polar molecules

ORAL

Abstract

We have studied dipolar collisions in an ultracold molecular gas prepared close to quantum degeneracy [1]. By applying a modest external electric field to fermionic KRb molecules produced in a single quantum state, we tune the dipolar interaction strength in the molecular gas. We observe a steep power law dependence of the chemical reaction rate on the induced dipole moment. In addition, we directly observe the spatial anisotropy of the dipolar interactions manifested in measurements of the thermodynamics of the dipolar gas.\\[4pt] [1] K-K. Ni et al., arXiv:1001.2809 (2010)

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Authors

  • Dajun Wang

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado

  • Kang-Kuen Ni

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, JILA, University of Colorado

  • Silke Ospelkaus

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, JILA, University of Colorado

  • G. Qu\`{e}m\`{e}ner

    JILA, University of Colorado, Boulder, JILA, NIST and University of Colorado

  • Brian Neyenhuis

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, JILA, University of Colorado

  • M.H.G. de Miranda

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado

  • John Bohn

    JILA, University of Colorado, JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, JILA, JILA and Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440, USA

  • J. Ye

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado

  • D.S. Jin

    JILA, NIST and University of Colorado