Lossy quantum defect theory of ultracold molecular collisions

Arthur Christianen, Gerrit C. Groenenboom, and Tijs Karman
Phys. Rev. A 104, 043327 – Published 29 October 2021

Abstract

We consider losses in collisions of ultracold molecules described by a simple statistical short-range model that explicitly accounts for the limited lifetime of classically chaotic collision complexes. This confirms that thermally sampling many isolated resonances leads to a loss cross section equal to the elastic cross section derived by Mayle et al. [Phys. Rev. A 85, 062712 (2012)] and this makes precise the conditions under which this is the case. Surprisingly, we find that the loss is nonuniversal. We also consider the case that loss broadens the short-range resonances to the point that they become overlapping. The overlapping resonances can be treated statistically even if the resonances are sparse compared to kBT, which may be the case for many molecules. The overlap results in Ericson fluctuations which yield a nonuniversal short-range boundary condition that is independent of energy over a range much wider than is sampled thermally. Deviations of experimental loss rates from the present theory beyond statistical fluctuations and the dependence on a background phase shift are interpreted as nonchaotic dynamics of short-range collision complexes.

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  • Received 5 August 2021
  • Accepted 18 October 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.104.043327

©2021 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Arthur Christianen1,2, Gerrit C. Groenenboom3, and Tijs Karman3,*

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, 85748 Garching, Germany
  • 2Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, 80799 München, Germany
  • 3Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands

  • *t.karman@science.ru.nl

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Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 4 — October 2021

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