Shape resonance determined from angular distribution in D2 (<i>v</i> = 2, <i>j</i> = 2) + He → D2 (<i>v</i> = 2, <i>j</i> = 0) + He cold scattering
Haowen Zhou, William E. Perreault, Nandini Mukherjee, Richard N. Zare
Abstract
We find an l = 2 shape resonance fingerprinted in the angular distribution of the cold (∼1 K) Δj = 2 rotationally inelastic collision of D2 with He in a single supersonic expansion. The Stark-induced adiabatic Raman passage is used to prepare D2 in the (v = 2, j = 2) rovibrational level with control of the spatial distribution of the bond axis of the molecule by magnetic sublevel selection. We show that the rate of Δj = 2 D2–D2 relaxation is nearly two orders of magnitude weaker than that of D2–He. This suggests that the strong D2–He scattering is caused by an orbiting resonance that is highly sensitive to the shape of the long-range potential.
Topics & Concepts
Rotational–vibrational spectroscopyAtomic physicsResonance (particle physics)Adiabatic processShape resonanceInelastic scatteringPhysicsScatteringRaman scatteringChemistryNuclear magnetic resonanceRaman spectroscopyExcited stateQuantum mechanicsCold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein CondensatesQuantum, superfluid, helium dynamicsAtomic and Subatomic Physics Research