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Issue Eur. Phys. J. D Volume 44, Number 1, July II 2007 Page(s) 73 - 79 Section Atomic and Molecular Collisions DOI 10.1140/epjd/e2007-00175-8 Published online 01 June 2007

Eur. Phys. J. D 44, 73-79 (2007)
DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2007-00175-8

Determination of the calcium ground state scattering length by photoassociation spectroscopy at large detunings

F. Vogt¹, Ch. Grain¹, T. Nazarova¹, U. Sterr¹, F. Riehle¹, Ch. Lisdat² and E. Tiemann<sup>2

1</sup>  Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany
²  Institut für Quantenoptik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany

lisdat@iqo.uni-hannover.de

(Received 28 February 2007 / Published online 1st June 2007)

Abstract
Photoassociation spectroscopy was used to determine the s-wave scattering length of ⁴⁰Ca atoms in their electronic ground state. Vibrational levels were observed in an extended range of up to 182 GHz below the dissociation limit S₀-4s4p ¹P₁. Thus, the frequency interval was nearly tripled, in which photoassociation was observed compared to previous measurements. The spectra were analyzed by means of quantum mechanical simulations. With the new data it was possible to resolve the discrepancy concerning the ground state scattering length presented in earlier publications [Phys. Rev. A 67, 043408 (2003); Eur. Phys. J. D 26, 155 (2003)]. An improved dipole-dipole coupling constant  cm^-1 nm³ is obtained.

PACS
32.80.Pj - Optical cooling of atoms; trapping.
34.50.Rk - Laser-modified scattering and reactions.
34.10.+x - General theories and models of atomic and molecular collisions and interactions (including statistical theories, transition state, stochastic and trajectory models, etc.).

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2007

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