Ultracold hydrogen atoms: a versatile coolant to produce ultracold molecules

González-Martínez, M. L.; Hutson, J. M.

Abstract

We show theoretically that ultracold hydrogen atoms have very favorable properties for sympathetic cooling of molecules to microkelvin temperatures. We calculate the potential energy surfaces for spin-polarized interactions of H atoms with the prototype molecules NHð3Þ and OHð2Þ and show that they are shallow (50 to 80 cm1) and only weakly anisotropic. We carry out quantum collision calculations on H þ NH and H þ OH and show that the ratio of elastic to inelastic cross sections is high enough to allow sympathetic cooling from temperatures well over 1 K for NH and around 250 mK for OH.

Citation

González-Martínez, M. L., & Hutson, J. M. (2013). Ultracold hydrogen atoms: a versatile coolant to produce ultracold molecules. Physical Review Letters, 111(20), Article 203004. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.203004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 14, 2014
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 111
• Issue: 20
• Article Number: 203004
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.111.203004
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1467064