Steering Reaction Flux by Coupling Product Channels

Area of Science:

• Chemical Physics
• Quantum Chemistry
• Atomic Physics

Background:

• Ultracold chemical reactions involve atoms colliding at extremely low temperatures.
• Product molecules can form in various internal states, defining different reaction channels.
• Controlling reaction outcomes is crucial for understanding and manipulating chemical processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel method for controlling the outcome of ultracold few-body reactions.
• To enable tunable redirection of reaction flux between specific product channels.
• To provide a general scheme applicable to diverse chemical processes.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing the coupling between two product channels at an avoided molecular energy level crossing.
• Employing an external magnetic field to control the degree of coupling.
• Applying magnetic field strength to tune the flux distribution between channels.

Main Results:

• Successfully demonstrated tunable control over reaction product distribution.
• Showcased the ability to redirect reaction flux between selected product channels.
• Verified the magnetic field's effectiveness in controlling the coupling strength.

Conclusions:

• The developed scheme offers precise control over ultracold chemical reaction outcomes.
• Molecular energy level crossings and magnetic fields provide a versatile platform for reaction control.
• The generality of the method suggests broad applicability in diverse chemical systems.