Observation of cold state-selected cesium molecules formed by stimulated Raman photoassociation

We demonstrate the formation of cold ground-state Cs-2 molecules (presumably in a single well-defined rovibrational level) by stimulated Raman photoassociation (PA) in a Cs vapor cell magneto-optical trap. Autler-Townes measurements allow us to precisely define the experimental conditions. The efficiency of the process is comparable to that of the formation of cold molecules obtained after spontaneous deexcitation of photoassociated molecules. Stimulated Raman PA should provide samples where the molecules are cold not only translationally, but are also in a selected rovibrational level.