Session C4: Dipolar Gases

2:00 PM–4:00 PM, Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Room: A704

Chair: Robin Cote, University of Connecticut

Abstract ID: BAPS.2011.DAMOP.C4.5

Abstract: C4.00005 : Chemical pathways in ultracold reactions of SrF molecules

2:48 PM–3:00 PM

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Authors:

  Edmund Meyer
    (Kansas State University)

  John Bohn
    (JILA)

We present a theoretical investigation of the chemical reaction SrF + SrF $\rightarrow$ products, focusing on reactions at ultralow temperatures. We find that bond swapping, SrF + SrF $\rightarrow$ Sr$_2$ + F$_2$, is energetically forbidden at these temperatures. Rather, the only energetically allowed reaction is SrF + SrF $\rightarrow$ SrF$_2$ + Sr, and even then only singlet states of the SrF$_2$ trimer can form. A calculation along a reduced reaction path demonstrates that this abstraction reaction is barrierless, and proceeds by one SrF molecule ``handing off'' a fluorine atom to the other molecule.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2011.DAMOP.C4.5