Quantum Dynamics of Ultracold Collisions and Reactions

低温和超低温下的分子现象研究是近年来原子、分子和光学物理研究的一个重要领域。该奖项支持在低温和超低温下对各种原子-硅藻化学反应和分子-分子碰撞的理论研究。涉及碱金属和非碱金属原子系统的无势垒化学反应以及隧道主导的反应将被研究。 该研究将深入了解极端量子极限下分子碰撞中的新型能量转移机制，并探索反应物/产物通道中的货车德瓦尔斯相互作用势如何影响超低温下的反应性。该研究将提供对接近绝对零度的温度下化学反应性的更好理解，并可能揭示控制化学反应动力学的新途径。在这项研究过程中开发的计算算法也可以应用于描述从超冷分子到大气化学以及天体物理学和等离子体聚变反应堆等不同环境中的分子过程。 该奖项的研究也将有助于未来的劳动力发展在科学和技术的时候，在科学和工程的整体兴趣是在美国下降。

Investigation of molecular phenomena at cold and ultracold temperatures has become a major area of research in atomic, molecular and optical physics in recent years. This award supports theoretical investigations of a variety of atom-diatom chemical reactions and molecule-molecule collisions at cold and ultracold temperatures. Barrierless chemical reactions involving alkali metal and non-alkali metal atom systems as well as tunneling dominated reactions will be investigated. The research will shed insights into novel energy transfer mechanisms in molecular collisions in the extreme quantum limit and explore how van der Waals interaction potentials in the reactant/product channels may influence reactivity at ultralow temperatures. The research will provide improved understanding of chemical reactivity at temperatures close to absolute zero and may reveal new pathways for control of chemical reaction dynamics. Computational algorithms developed during the course of this research could also be applied to describe molecular processes in diverse environments ranging from ultracold molecules to atmospheric chemistry as well as astrophysics and plasma fusion reactors. Research performed with this award will also contribute to future workforce development in Science and Technology at a time when the overall interest in Science and Engineering is on the decline in the United States.