CrRb: A molecule with large magnetic and electric dipole moments

We report calculations of Born-Oppenheimer potential energy curves of the chromium-rubidium heteronuclear molecule ((CrRb)-Cr-52-Rb-87), and the long-range dispersion coefficient for the interaction between ground state Cr and Rb atoms. Our calculated van der Waals coefficient (C-6 = 1770 a.u.) has an expected error of 3%. The ground state (6)Sigma(+) molecule at its equilibrium separation has a permanent electric dipole moment of d(e)(R-e = 3.34 angstrom) = 2.90 D. We investigate the hyperfine and dipolar collisions between trapped Cr and Rb atoms, finding elastic to inelastic cross section ratio of 10(2)-10(3)