Adiabatic and Nonadiabatic Energy Transfer in Cold and Ultracold Collisions

University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Norman OK

Investigators

Abstract

The proposal tackles some very difficult yet contemporary problems in collision physics. Three-body recombination research will be extended to the heavier alkalis (Na, K, Rb and Cs). A detailed direct comparison of the scattering results when one includes or excludes nonadiabatic coupling terms and conical intersections will provide new insights for interpreting observed phenomena. Study of coherently controlled bimolecular reactions will be extended to include nonadiabatic effects and laser fields. Energy dependent cross sections will be calculated over a large energy range from ultracold energies to thermal energies. Threshold behavior and quantum resonances will be mapped out. The inclusion of electromagnetic interactions will provide cross sections as a function of laser intensity. The range of laser intensities will be from very weak intensities to intensities of more than 1012 watts/cm3. Photon-system interactions will provide a rich enviroment for studying chemical reactions especially at ultracold and cold temperatures. Time-dependent methods will be developed to watch the flow of energy among different adiabatic states and regions of configuration space.