We present the theory of laser-induced radiative association in terms of a scattering resonance formalism and apply this theory to the specific case of Na atom collisions at a temperature of 10 mK. Use of ultracold atoms permits a new kind of high-resolution free-bound spectroscopy for the study of near-threshold collisions and excited-state energy levels which are difficult to study by conventional bound state spectroscopy.

• Received 2 March 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.2420