Reactions of ultracold alkali metal dimers

TL;DR

This study explores the energetics of reactions involving ultracold alkali metal dimers, revealing conditions for atom exchange and the energetic forbiddance of trimer formation, which impacts the stability of quantum gases.

Contribution

It provides high-level electronic structure calculations on alkali metal trimers, showing trimer formation is energetically forbidden in low-lying singlet states, informing quantum gas stability.

Findings

Atom exchange reactions are energetically allowed for some heteronuclear dimers.

Trimer formation reactions are always energetically forbidden for low-lying singlet states.

Results have implications for the stability of quantum gases of alkali metal dimers.

Abstract

We investigate the energetics of reactions involving pairs of alkali metal dimers. Atom exchange reactions to form homonuclear dimers are energetically allowed for some but not all of the heteronuclear dimers. We carry out high-level electronic structure calculations on the potential energy surfaces of all the heteronuclear alkali metal trimers and show that trimer formation reactions are always energetically forbidden for low-lying singlet states of the dimers. The results have important implications for the stability of quantum gases of alkali metal dimers.