Spin-controlled atom–ion chemistry

Tomas Sikorsky (), Ziv Meir, Ruti Ben-shlomi, Nitzan Akerman and Roee Ozeri
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Tomas Sikorsky: Weizmann Institute of Science
Ziv Meir: Weizmann Institute of Science
Ruti Ben-shlomi: Weizmann Institute of Science
Nitzan Akerman: Weizmann Institute of Science
Roee Ozeri: Weizmann Institute of Science

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: Abstract Quantum control of chemical reactions is an important goal in chemistry and physics. Ultracold chemical reactions are often controlled by preparing the reactants in specific quantum states. Here we demonstrate spin-controlled atom–ion inelastic (spin-exchange) processes and chemical (charge-exchange) reactions in an ultracold Rb-Sr+ mixture. The ion’s spin state is controlled by the atomic hyperfine spin state via spin-exchange collisions, which polarize the ion’s spin parallel to the atomic spin. We achieve ~ 90% spin polarization due to the absence of strong spin-relaxation channel. Charge-exchange collisions involving electron transfer are only allowed for (RbSr)+ colliding in the singlet manifold. Initializing the atoms in various spin states affects the overlap of the collision wave function with the singlet molecular manifold and therefore also the reaction rate. Our observations agree with theoretical predictions.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03373-y

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