Interactions and dynamics in Li+Li2 ultracold collisions

Cvitaš, Marko T.; Soldán, Pavel; Hutson, Jeremy M.; Honvault, Pascal; Launay, Jean-Michel

Abstract

A potential energy surface for the lowest quartet electronic state (A′4) of lithium trimer is developed and used to study spin-polarized Li+Li2collisions at ultralow kinetic energies. The potential energy surface allows barrierless atom exchange reactions. Elastic and inelastic cross sections are calculated for collisions involving a variety of rovibrational states of Li2. Inelastic collisions are responsible for trap loss in molecule production experiments. Isotope effects and the sensitivity of the results to details of the potential energy surface are investigated. It is found that for vibrationally excited states, the cross sections are only quite weakly dependent on details of the potential energy surface.

Citation

Cvitaš, M. T., Soldán, P., Hutson, J. M., Honvault, P., & Launay, J. (2007). Interactions and dynamics in Li+Li2 ultracold collisions. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 127(7), Article 074302. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2752162

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 1, 2007
• Publication Date: Aug 21, 2007
• Deposit Date: Jun 19, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 18, 2015
• Journal: Journal of Chemical Physics
• Print ISSN: 0021-9606
• Electronic ISSN: 1089-7690
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 127
• Issue: 7
• Article Number: 074302
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2752162
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1473512