An ion-atom merged beams setup at the Cryogenic Storage Ring.

Area of Science:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Chemical Physics
• Experimental Nuclear Physics

Background:

• Ion-neutral collision studies are crucial for understanding chemical processes in various environments.
• Previous experimental methods faced limitations in controlling collision energies and reactant types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel merged beams experiment for studying ion-neutral collisions.
• To detail the capabilities of the Cryogenic Storage Ring setup for high-precision measurements.
• To demonstrate proof-of-principle for the experimental approach.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a merged beams technique with fast neutral atom beams (10-300 keV) generated by laser photodetachment.
• Employing a cryogenic storage ring to store molecular ions and facilitate reactions with neutral beams.
• Implementing dedicated detectors for charged reaction products across various mass ranges.
• Tuning relative collision energies by adjusting the kinetic energy of the neutral beam.

Main Results:

• Successful generation of fast neutral atom beams in their ground state.
• Demonstration of the experimental setup's capability to study ion-neutral reactions.
• Proof-of-principle measurements for the reaction of neutral Carbon atoms with deuterated molecular ions (D2+).

Conclusions:

• The described merged beams experiment provides a versatile platform for investigating ion-neutral collision dynamics.
• The Cryogenic Storage Ring setup offers precise control over collision parameters.
• This technique opens new avenues for studying fundamental chemical reactions at the atomic and molecular level.