Prospects for sympathetic cooling of polar molecules : NH with alkali-metal and alkaline-earth atoms - a new hope

Soldan, Pavel; Zuchowski, Piotr S.; Hutson, Jeremy M.

Abstract

We explore the potential energy surfaces for NH molecules interacting with alkali-metal and alkaline-earth atoms using highly correlated ab initio electronic structure calculations. The surfaces for interaction with alkali-metal atoms have deep wells dominated by covalent forces. The resulting strong anisotropies will produce strongly inelastic collisions. The surfaces for interaction with alkaline-earth atoms have shallower wells that are dominated by induction and dispersion forces. For Be and Mg the anisotropy is small compared to the rotational constant of NH, so that collisions will be relatively weakly inelastic. Be and Mg are thus promising coolants for sympathetic cooling of NH to the ultracold regime.

Citation

Soldan, P., Zuchowski, P. S., & Hutson, J. M. (2009). Prospects for sympathetic cooling of polar molecules : NH with alkali-metal and alkaline-earth atoms - a new hope. Faraday Discussions, 142, 191-201. https://doi.org/10.1039/b822769c

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Jun 19, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 27, 2013
• Journal: Faraday Discussions
• Print ISSN: 1359-6640
• Electronic ISSN: 1364-5498
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 142
• Pages: 191-201
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b822769c
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1481582