Experimental investigation of chemical reactions with full quantum state resolution for all reactants and products has been a long-term challenge. Here we prepare an ultracold few-body quantum state of reactants and demonstrate state-to-state chemistry for the recombination of three spin-polarized ultracold rubidium (Rb) atoms to form a weakly bound Rb2\ molecule. The measured product distribution covers about 90\% of the final products, and we are able to discriminate between product states with a level splitting as small as 20 megahertz multiplied by Planck\textquoterights constant. Furthermore, we formulate propensity rules for the distribution of products, and we develop a theoretical model that predicts many of our experimental observations. The scheme can readily be adapted to other species and opens a door to detailed investigations of inelastic or reactive processes.
BT - Science DA - 2017-11 DO - 10.1126/science.aan8721 N2 -Experimental investigation of chemical reactions with full quantum state resolution for all reactants and products has been a long-term challenge. Here we prepare an ultracold few-body quantum state of reactants and demonstrate state-to-state chemistry for the recombination of three spin-polarized ultracold rubidium (Rb) atoms to form a weakly bound Rb2\ molecule. The measured product distribution covers about 90\% of the final products, and we are able to discriminate between product states with a level splitting as small as 20 megahertz multiplied by Planck\textquoterights constant. Furthermore, we formulate propensity rules for the distribution of products, and we develop a theoretical model that predicts many of our experimental observations. The scheme can readily be adapted to other species and opens a door to detailed investigations of inelastic or reactive processes.
PY - 2017 SP - 921 EP - 924 T2 - Science TI - State-to-state chemistry for three-body recombination in an ultracold rubidium gas UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29146811 VL - 358 SN - 0036-8075 ER -