Propensity rules for product state distribution of ultracold Rb three-body recombination*

In this talk, I will present our recent advances in understanding the dynamical processes relevant for state-to-state ultracold chemistry of Rb atoms. Our theoretical and experimental studies of three-body recombination have led to the determination of two types of propensity rules controlling the product state distribution of such chemical reaction [1,2]. The first propensity rule is associated to kinetic energy released in the reaction, making deeply bound molecular products increasingly unlikely to be formed. The second is associated to the spins of the atoms and molecules involved in the reaction, where the only molecular products formed are those whose share the same spin character of the reactant atoms. 

[1] S. Haze, J. P. D'Incao, D. Dorer, M. Deiss, E. Tiemann, P. S. Julienne, J. Hecker Denschlag, arXiv:2112.13714 

[2] J. Wolf, M. Deiss, A. Kurkow, E. Tiemann, B. P. Ruzic, Y. Wang, J. P. D’Incao, P. S. Julienne, and J. H. Denschlag, Science 358, 921 (2017)