https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2005-00186-5
Accurate characterisation of the C(3)1Σ+ state of the NaRb molecule*
1
Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Lotnikow 32/46 00-668, Warsaw, Poland
2
Institute of Experimental Physics, Warsaw University, ul. Hoza 69, 00-681, Warsaw, Poland
3
Department of Physics and Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy, University of Latvia,
19 Rainis Blvd., 1586 Riga, Latvia
4
Institut für Quantenoptik, Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany
Corresponding author: a knoeckel@iqo.uni-hannover.de
Received:
21
December
2004
Revised:
2
June
2005
Published online:
19
July
2005
We present a first detailed experimental study of the C(3)
state of the NaRb molecule converging
to the Na(3p) + Rb(5s) states of separated atoms. Two different high resolution spectroscopic methods
have been applied: the Fourier transform spectroscopy of laser induced fluorescence and the V-type
optical-optical double resonance polarization labeling spectroscopy. The entire data field for the
C state of Na85Rb and Na87Rb consists of rovibrational levels with v'=0–64
and J'=4–123. The data were incorporated into a direct fit of a single potential energy curve to the level
energies using the Inverted Perturbation Approach method. As the experimental data extend to the
“shelf" region of the potential at large internuclear separations of 8.5 Å, the C state's suitability
for photoassociation yielding cold heteronuclear NaRb is discussed.
PACS: 31.50.Df – Potential energy surfaces for excited electronic states / 32.90.+a – Other topics in atomic properties and interactions of atoms with photons (restricted to new topics in section 32) / 33.20.Kf – Visible spectra
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag, 2005
