• Featured in Physics
  • Editors' Suggestion

Observation of Chemical Reactions between a Trapped Ion and Ultracold Feshbach Dimers

H. Hirzler, R. S. Lous, E. Trimby, J. Pérez-Ríos, A. Safavi-Naini, and R. Gerritsma
Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 103401 – Published 10 March 2022
Physics logo See synopsis: Cold Collisions Get Charged
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We measure chemical reactions between a single trapped Yb+174 ion and ultracold Li2 dimers. This produces LiYb+ molecular ions that we detect via mass spectrometry. We explain the reaction rates by modeling the dimer density as a function of the magnetic field and obtain excellent agreement when we assume the reaction to follow the Langevin rate. Our results present a novel approach towards the creation of cold molecular ions and point to the exploration of ultracold chemistry in ion molecule collisions. What is more, with a detection sensitivity below molecule densities of 1014m3, we provide a new method to detect low-density molecular gases.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 27 October 2021
  • Accepted 1 February 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.103401

© 2022 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Atomic, Molecular & Optical

synopsis

Key Image

Cold Collisions Get Charged

Published 10 March 2022

Researchers demonstrate that they can create molecules from lithium dimers and ytterbium ions, paving the way for quantum chemistry studies in a new type of system.

See more in Physics

Authors & Affiliations

H. Hirzler1, R. S. Lous1, E. Trimby1, J. Pérez-Ríos2,3,4, A. Safavi-Naini5,6, and R. Gerritsma1,5

  • 1Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 2Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 3Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  • 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
  • 5QuSoft, Science Park 123, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 6Institute for Theoretical Physics, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 128, Iss. 10 — 11 March 2022

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×