2015 Articles

High-precision spectroscopy of ultracold molecules in an optical lattice

McGuyer, B. H.; McDonald, Mickey; Iwata, Geoffrey Zerbinatti; Tarallo, M. G.; Grier, A. T.; Apfelbeck, F.; Zelevinsky, Tanya

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 88Sr2 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.