2022/03/21 by Tobias Sixt, F. Stienkemeier, Frank Stienkemeier +1
Chemistry · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Chemical Physics Studies #Angular momentum #Atomic physics #Chemistry #Cold Atom Physics and Bose-Einstein Condensates #Electron #Electron ionization #Ground state #Helium #Ion #Ionization #Lithium (medication) #Metastability #Nuclear physics #Physics #Quantum, superfluid, helium dynamics #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin states #Thermal ionization #physics.atom-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1063/5.0083842
published as J. Chem. Phys. 156 (11), 114306 (2022)
openalex publication_date 2022/03/21 · arxiv created 2022/03/24 · arxiv updated 2022/03/25 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We demonstrate the control of 4He(23S1)-7Li(22S1/2) chemi-ionization reactions by all-optical electron-spin-state preparation of both atomic species prior to the collision process. Our results demonstrate that chemi-ionization is strongly suppressed (enhanced) for non-spin-conserving (spin-conserving) collisions at thermal energies. These findings are in good agreement with a model based on spin angular momentum coupling of the prepared atomic states to the quasi-molecular states. Small deviations from the model indicate the contribution of the 4Σ+ channel to the reaction rate which is in violation of spin conservation.