Quantum dynamics of resonant molecule formation in waveguides

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum confinement in waveguides enables a new mechanism for resonant formation of polar molecules from heteronuclear atomic collisions, with formation probabilities tunable via trap frequencies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum mechanism for resonant molecule formation in waveguides, highlighting the role of confinement-induced mixing of atomic motions.

Findings

Molecular formation probabilities are tunable by trap frequencies.

A new mechanism involving confinement-induced mixing facilitates resonant molecule formation.

Coupling of diatomic continuum to center of mass excited states is key.

Abstract

We explore the quantum dynamics of heteronuclear atomic collisions in waveguides and demonstrate the existence of a novel mechanism for the resonant formation of polar molecules. The molecular formation probabilities can be tuned by changing the trap frequencies characterizing the transverse modes of the atomic species. The origin of this effect is the confinement-induced mixing of the relative and center of mass motions in the atomic collision process leading to a coupling of the diatomic continuum to center of mass excited molecular states in closed transverse channels.