The production of a quantum gas with strong long - range dipolar interactions is a major scientific goal in the research field of ultracold gases. In their ro - vibrational ground
state Li -K dimers possess a large permanent dipole moment, which could possibly be
exploited for the realization of such a quantum gas. A production of these molecules
can be achieved by the association of Li and K at a Feshbach resonance, followed by a
coherent state transfer. In this thesis, detailed theoretical an experimental preparations
to achieve state transfer by means of Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP)
are described.
The theoretical preparations focus on the selection of an electronically excited
molecular state that is suitable for STIRAP transfer. In this context, molecular transition
dipole moments for both transitions involved in STIRAP transfer are predicted
for the first time. This is achieved by the calculation of Franck -Condon factors and
a determination of the state in which the 6Li - 40K Feshbach molecules are produced.
The calculations show that state transfer by use of a single STIRAP sequence is experimentally
very well feasible. Further, the optical wavelengths that are needed to
address the selected states are calculated. The high accuracy of the data will allow to
carry out the molecular spectroscopy in a fast and efficient manner. Further, only a
comparatively narrow wavelength tuneability of the spectroscopy lasers is needed.
The most suitable Feshbach resonance for the production of 6Li - 40K molecules at
experimentally manageable magnetic field strengths is occurring at 155G. Experimentally,
this resonance is investigated by means of cross - dimensional relaxation. The
application of the technique at various magnetic field strengths in the vicinity of the
155G Feshbach resonance allows a determination of the resonance position and width
with so far unreached precision. This reveals the production of molecules on the atomic
side of the resonance, thereby establishing the first observation of a many body effect
in the crossover regime of a narrow Feshbach resonance. Further, mass dependent
factors, with which the equilibration of an induced anisotropic temperature of the
trapped particle samples can be described, are experimentally determined for the first
time. The type of resonance as well as the measured molecular lifetimes are found to
be very well suited for STIRAP transfer.
A Raman laser system is designed based on the transition wavelengths and durations
of state transfer which are predicted. As the wavelengths of the Raman lasers
differ widely but coherence of the light fields is needed, the technical realization of
a laser system is challenging. As a part of the laser system, the construction and
characterization of a reference optical resonator are presented. Laser frequency stabilization
with a linewidth of approximately 500Hz and an Allan deviation below 10−12
for timespans up to several ten seconds are demonstrated. Further, the stabilization
of a frequency comb to this reference laser is demonstrated.
For the laser spectroscopy of electronically excited Li -K states an interferometric
laser frequency stabilization will be used. The device is a commercial design, for which
a calibration procedure that enhances the precision by several orders of magnitude is
worked out within this thesis. The calibration scheme includes the precise measurement
of the stabilization’s wavelength dependent frequency deviations by means of a
frequency comb. By the implementation of several calibration steps a remaining frequency
deviation of less than 5.7MHz (rms 1.6MHz) in the whole relevant wavelength
range 750 - 795 nm is achieved. Only the exceptional precision of the fully calibrated device
permits the usage for the Li -K spectroscopy, while the demonstrated wide tuning
capability facilitates the completion of the latter in a fast and convenient manner.