A Homonuclear Molecule with a Permanent Electric Dipole Moment

Li, W.; Pohl, T.; Rost, J. M.; Rittenhouse, Seth T.; Sadeghpour, Hossein R.; Nipper, J.; Butscher, B.; Balewski, J. B.; Bendkowsky, V.; Löw, R.; Pfau, T.

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Author

Li, W.

Pohl, T.

Rost, J. M.

Rittenhouse, Seth T.

Sadeghpour, Hossein R. HARVARD

Nipper, J.

Butscher, B.

Balewski, J. B.

Bendkowsky, V.

Löw, R.

Pfau, T.

Published Version

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1211255

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Citation

Li, W., T. Pohl, J. M. Rost, Seth T. Rittenhouse, H. R. Sadeghpour, J. Nipper, B. Butscher, et al. 2011. A Homonuclear Molecule with a Permanent Electric Dipole Moment. Science 334, no. 6059: 1110–1114.

Abstract

Permanent electric dipole moments in molecules require a breaking of parity symmetry. Conventionally, this symmetry breaking relies on the presence of heteronuclear constituents. We report the observation of a permanent electric dipole moment in a homonuclear molecule in which the binding is based on asymmetric electronic excitation between the atoms. These exotic molecules consist of a ground-state rubidium (Rb) atom bound inside a second Rb atom electronically excited to a high-lying Rydberg state. Detailed calculations predict appreciable dipole moments on the order of 1 Debye, in excellent agreement with the observations.