Creation and manipulation of Feshbach resonances with radiofrequency radiation

We present a simple technique for studying the collisions of ultracold atoms in the presence of a magnetic field and radiofrequency (rf) radiation. Resonant control of scattering properties can be achieved by using rf to couple a colliding pair of atoms to a bound state. We show, using the example of ⁶Li, that in some ranges of rf frequency and magnetic field this can be done without giving rise to losses. We also show that halo molecules of large spatial extent allow resonant control with much less rf power than deeply bound states. Another way to exert resonant control is with a set of rf-coupled bound states, linked to the colliding pair through the molecular interactions that give rise to magnetically tunable Feshbach resonances. This was recently demonstrated for ⁸⁷Rb (Kaufman et al 2009 Phys. Rev. A 80 050701) [1]. We examine the underlying atomic and molecular physics that made this possible. Lastly, we consider the control that may be exerted over atomic collisions by placing atoms in superpositions of Zeeman states, and suggest that it could be useful where small changes in scattering length are required. We suggest other species for which rf and magnetic field control could together provide a useful tuning mechanism.