Imaging Resonance Effects in C + H2 Collisions Using a Zeeman Decelerator.

An intriguing phenomenon in molecular collisions is the occurrence of scattering resonances, which originate from bound and quasi-bound states supported by the interaction potential at low collision energies. The resonance effects in the scattering behavior are extraordinarily sensitive to the interaction potential, and their observation provides one of the most stringent tests for theoretical models. We present high-resolution measurements of state-resolved angular scattering distributions for inelastic collisions between Zeeman-decelerated C(3P1) atoms and para-H2 molecules at collision energies ranging from 77 cm-1 down to 0.5 cm-1. Rapid variations in the angular distributions were observed, which can be attributed to the consecutive reduction of contributing partial waves and effects of scattering resonances. The measurements showed excellent agreement with distributions predicted by ab initio quantum scattering calculations. However, discrepancies were found at specific collision energies, which most likely originate from an incorrectly predicted quasi-bound state. These observations provide exciting prospects for further high-precision and low-energy investigations of scattering processes that involve paramagnetic species.

Low-Energy Collisions of Zeeman-Decelerated NH Radicals with He Atoms.

We report an experimental study of state-to-state inelastic scattering of NH (X 3Σ-, N = 0, j = 1) radicals with He atoms. Using a crossed molecular beam apparatus that combines a Zeeman decelerator and velocity map imaging, we study both integral and differential cross sections in the N = 0, j = 1 → N = 2, j = 3 inelastic channel. We developed various new REMPI schemes to state-selectively detect NH radicals, and tested their performance in terms of sensitivity and ion recoil velocity. We found a 1 + 2' + 1' REMPI scheme using the A 3Π â† X 3Σ- resonant transition, which yields acceptable recoil velocities and is more than an order of magnitude more sensitive than conventional one-color REMPI schemes to detect NH. We used this REMPI scheme to probe state-to-state integral and differential cross sections around the channel opening at 97.7 cm-1, as well as at higher energies where structure in the scattering images could be resolved. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with the predictions from quantum scattering calculations which are based on an ab initio NH-He potential energy surface.

High-Resolution Imaging of C + He Collisions using Zeeman Deceleration and Vacuum-Ultraviolet Detection.

High-resolution measurements of angular scattering distributions provide a sensitive test for theoretical descriptions of collision processes. Crossed beam experiments employing a decelerator and velocity map imaging have proven successful to probe collision cross sections with extraordinary resolution. However, a prerequisite to exploit these possibilities is the availability of a near-threshold state-selective ionization scheme to detect the collision products, which for many species is either absent or inefficient. We present the first implementation of recoil-free vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) based detection in scattering experiments involving a decelerator and velocity map imaging. This allowed for high-resolution measurements of state-resolved angular scattering distributions for inelastic collisions between Zeeman-decelerated carbon C(3P1) atoms and helium atoms. We fully resolved diffraction oscillations in the angular distributions, which showed excellent agreement with the distributions predicted by quantum scattering calculations. Our approach offers exciting prospects to investigate a large range of scattering processes with unprecedented precision.

High-resolution imaging of molecular collisions using a Zeeman decelerator.

We present the first crossed beam scattering experiment using a Zeeman decelerated molecular beam. The narrow velocity spreads of Zeeman decelerated NO (X2Π3/2, j = 3/2) radicals result in high-resolution scattering images, thereby fully resolving quantum diffraction oscillations in the angular scattering distribution for inelastic NO-Ne collisions and product-pair correlations in the radial scattering distribution for inelastic NO-O2 collisions. These measurements demonstrate similar resolution and sensitivity as in experiments using Stark decelerators, opening up possibilities for controlled and low-energy scattering experiments using chemically relevant species such as H and O atoms, O2 molecules, or NH radicals.