Premium
Unraveling Cold Molecular Collisions: Stark Decelerators in Crossed‐Beam Experiments
Author(s) -
Onvlee Jolijn,
Vogels Sjoerd N.,
van de Meerakker Sebastiaan Y. T.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201600604
Subject(s) - molecular beam , stark effect , beam (structure) , atomic physics , chemistry , physics , materials science , optics , molecule , astronomy , spectral line , quantum mechanics
In the last two decades, enormous progress has been made in the manipulation of molecular beams. In particular, molecular decelerators have been developed with which advanced control over neutral molecules in a beam can be achieved. By using arrays of inhomogeneous and time‐varying electric (or magnetic) fields, bunches of molecules can be produced with a tunable velocity, narrow velocity spreads, and almost perfect quantum‐state purity. These monochromatic or “tamed” molecular beams are ideally suited to be used in crossed‐molecular‐beam scattering experiments. Here, we review the first generation of these “cold and controlled” scattering experiments that have been conducted in the last decade and discuss the prospects for this emerging field of research in the years to come.