High-resolution imaging of molecular collisions using a Zeeman decelerator

Vikram Plomp; Zhi Gao; Theo Cremers; Matthieu Besemer; Sebastiaan Y. T. van de Meerakker

doi:10.1063/1.5142817

paper

High-resolution imaging of molecular collisions using a Zeeman decelerator

arXiv:1909.02542 · doi:10.1063/1.5142817

Abstract

We present the first crossed beam scattering experiment using a Zeeman decelerated molecular beam. The narrow velocity spreads of Zeeman decelerated NO ( $X^{2} Π_{3/2}, j = 3/2$ ) 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-O $_{2}$ 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, O $_{2}$ molecules or NH radicals.