.Chemical Physics Letters 313 1999 110–114 www.elsevier.nlrlocatercplett Photoassociation of cesium atoms into the double minimum

We have observed the transition from the free colliding pair of cesium atoms into the outer well of the double minimum Cs 3 1Sq state. This photoassociation process takes place in a cesium vapor consisting predominantly of atoms, in which2 u dimers have been about 85 % thermally dissociated. Excellent agreement with quasiclassical simulations was found. We discuss the possibility of using a double minimum Cs 3 1Sq state for the formation of ultracold Cs X 1Sq molecules.2 u 2