Spectroscopy of molecules and quantum information

Laser spectroscopy of van der Waals molecules produced in free-jet supersonic beams Laser spectroscopy of van der Waals diatoms produced in supersonic beams is a source of information on the ground- and excited-state interatomic potentials. The goal of the research is to provide a comprehensive characterisation of the MeRG and Me2 diatoms, where Me and RG are 12-group (Zn, Cd, Hg) and rare gas atoms, respectively [Science Direct]. As a result, the ground and a number of low-lying excited states as well as lowest Rydberg states of the molecules are characterised over a broad range of internuclear separations. Analytical functions are proposed to represent the potential energy curves in three separate regions of internuclear separation: short-range region, vicinity of the equilibrium internuclear separation, and long-range limit. A number of controversies and ambiguous interpretations concerning the earlier observed spectra of these molecules have been clarified and new interpretation has been proposed. Also, in several cases an inverse perturbation approach (IPA) method has been applied to obtain an interatomic potential [Physical Review Archive, Physical Review Archive]. The experiments are carried out in the Institute of Physics , Jagiellonian University where an experimental set up was built and is continuously developed. It allows to study excitation spectra and fluorescence spectra of the Me2 and MeRG molecules using methods of laser spectroscopy. Rotational strctures in Hg2 are studied within a cooperation with group of E. Fry of Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Calculation of molecular potentials are performed in cooperation with M. Krosnicki of University of Gdansk and C. Western of University of Bristol. Cooperation with group of University of Windsor brings still new results on spectroscopy of extremely weak CdHe complex.