Laser controlled charge-transfer reaction at low temperatures

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that near-resonant laser light can significantly enhance or suppress low-temperature charge transfer reactions between neutral atoms and ions, with potential control over reaction rates.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-channel model with field-dressed states to show laser-induced control of charge transfer reactions at low temperatures.

Findings

Reaction rate coefficient can be increased by several orders of magnitude.

Laser frequency can selectively enhance or suppress charge-exchange rates.

Multi-photon processes are negligible at the studied intensities.

Abstract

We study the low-temperature charge transfer reaction between a neutral atom and an ion under the influence of near-resonant laser light. By setting up a multi-channel model with field-dressed states we demonstrate that the reaction rate coefficient can be enhanced by several orders of magnitude with laser intensities of $10^6$ W/cm$^2$ or larger. In addition, depending on laser frequency one can induce a significant enhancement or suppression of the charge-exchange rate coefficient. For our intensities multi-photon processes are not important.