Abstract
We demonstrate the direct formation of vibronic ground state RbCs molecules
by photoassociation of ultracold atoms followed by radiative stabilization. The
photoassociation proceeds through deeply-bound levels of the (2)^3\Pi_0^+
state. From analysis of the relevant free-to-bound and bound-to-bound
Franck-Condon factors, we have predicted and experimentally verified a set of
photoassociation resonances that lead to efficient creation of molecules in the
v=0 vibrational level of the X^1\Sigma^+ electronic ground state. We also
compare the observed and calculated laser intensity required to saturate the
photoassociation rate. We discuss the prospects for using short-range
photoassociation to create and accumulate samples of ultracold polar molecules
in their rovibronic ground state.
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