Synthesis of mixed hypermetallic oxide BaOCa$^+$ from laser-cooled reagents in an atom-ion hybrid trap

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the synthesis and detailed investigation of the mixed hypermetallic oxide BaOCa$^+$ using ultracold techniques and high-level calculations, revealing its formation mechanism and reaction kinetics at ultracold temperatures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ultracold synthesis method for BaOCa$^+$ and provides insights into its bonding, structure, and formation mechanism through combined experimental and theoretical approaches.

Findings

Formation of BaOCa$^+$ occurs via a barrierless reaction.

Reaction kinetics match long-range capture theory predictions.

Detailed electronic structure analysis elucidates bonding and structure.

Abstract

Hypermetallic alkaline earth (M) oxides of formula MOM have been studied under plasma conditions that preclude insight into their formation mechanism. We present here the application of emerging techniques in ultracold physics to the synthesis of a mixed hypermetallic oxide, BaOCa$^+$. These methods, augmented by high-level electronic structure calculations, permit detailed investigation of the bonding and structure, as well as the mechanism of its formation via the barrierless reaction of Ca $(^3P_J)$ with BaOCH$_{3}^+$. Further investigations of the reaction kinetics as a function of collision energy over the range 0.005 K to 30 K and of individual Ca fine-structure levels compare favorably with calculations based on long-range capture theory.