2012/06/30 by Lothar Ratschbacher, Christoph Zipkes, Carlo Sias +1 · 144 citations
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Atomic physics #Chemical physics #Chemical process #Chemical reaction #Chemistry #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Hyperfine structure #Ion #Materials science #Nanotechnology #Particle (ecology) #Physics #Quantum mechanics #Reaction rate #cond-mat.quant-gas #physics.atom-ph #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/nphys2373
published in Nature Physics 8(9), 649-652 (Nature Portfolio)
openalex publication_date 2012/07/22 · arxiv created 2012/09/26 · arxiv updated 2012/09/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The control of chemical reactions is a recurring theme in physics and chemistry. Traditionally, chemical reactions have been investigated by tuning thermodynamic parameters, such as temperature or pressure. More recently, physical methods such as laser or magnetic field control have emerged to provide completely new experimental possibilities, in particular in the realm of cold collisions. The control of reaction pathways is also a critical component to implement molecular quantum information processing. For these undertakings, single particles provide a clean and well-controlled experimental system. Here, we report on the experimental tuning of the exchange reaction rates of a single trapped ion with ultracold neutral atoms by exerting control over both their quantum states. We observe the influence of the hyperfine interaction on chemical reaction rates and branching ratios, and monitor the kinematics of the reaction products. These investigations advance chemistry with single trapped particles towards achieving quantum-limited control of chemical reactions and indicate limits for buffer gas cooling of single ion clocks.