High-resolution imaging of molecular collisions using a Zeeman decelerator

Area of Science:

• Chemical Physics
• Molecular Dynamics
• Quantum Scattering

Background:

• Molecular beam experiments are crucial for understanding chemical reaction dynamics.
• Achieving high resolution in scattering experiments requires beams with narrow velocity spreads.
• Zeeman deceleration offers a promising technique for preparing such beams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the capability of Zeeman decelerated molecular beams for high-resolution scattering studies.
• To investigate inelastic collisions of nitrogen oxides (NO) with neon (Ne) and oxygen (O2).
• To explore the potential of this technique for future low-energy scattering experiments.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a crossed beam scattering setup with a Zeeman decelerated molecular beam of NO radicals.
• Analyzing scattering images to resolve quantum diffraction oscillations and product-pair correlations.
• Comparing the resolution and sensitivity with experiments using Stark decelerators.

Main Results:

• Achieved high-resolution scattering images due to narrow velocity spreads of the NO beam.
• Fully resolved quantum diffraction oscillations in NO-Ne inelastic collisions.
• Resolved product-pair correlations in the radial scattering distribution for NO-O2 collisions.

Conclusions:

• Zeeman deceleration provides resolution and sensitivity comparable to Stark decelerators.
• This technique opens new avenues for controlled, low-energy scattering experiments.
• Applicable to a range of chemically relevant species like H, O, O2, and NH radicals.