Ultracold Alkali-Noble Gas Interactions

本研究利用双磁光阱（MOT 0）研究碱金属原子和亚稳态稀有气体原子的同时禁闭。特别是，一个碱金属原子（铷）和一个亚稳态惰性气体原子（氩，氪）之间的超冷碰撞将被研究，以及不同的亚稳态惰性气体原子（氩和氪）之间的碰撞。实验将集中在超冷碰撞中的电离率和碰撞过程中的光缔合光谱。实验结果将用于获得在超冷温度下的异质碰撞和分子形成的基本理解，以及确定对交感冷却重要的散射长度，确定与分子结构计算比较的势曲线，在新的制度中测试冷碰撞理论，并更好地理解超冷碰撞中的异相Penning和缔合电离过程。在更广泛的影响方面，该项目为研究生和本科生提供了一个多功能的培训基地，同时有助于增加妇女和少数民族对科学的参与。

This research focuses on the use of a dual Magneto-Optical Trap (MOT0 to study the simultaneous confinement of alkali atoms and metastable rare gas atoms. In particular, ultracold collisions between one alkali atom (rubidium) and one metastable noble gas atom (argon, krypton) will be studied as well as collisions between unlike metastable noble gas atoms (argon and krypton). The experiments will be centered on ionization rates in the ultracold collisions and photoassociative spectroscopy during the collisions. Results of the experiments will be used to gain a fundamental understanding of heteronuclear collisions and molecular formation at ultracold temperatures as well as to determine scattering lengths which are important for sympathetic cooling, to determine potential curves for comparison with molecular structure calculations, to test cold collision theories in a new regime, and to better understand heteronuclear Penning and associative ionization processes in ultracold collisions. On the broader impacts, the project serves as a versatile training ground for graduate and undergraduate students while helping to increase the participation of women and minorities in science.