Cold Physics and Chemistry: Collisions, Ionization and Reactions inside Helium Nanodroplets Close to Zero K

TL;DR

This review discusses how helium nanodroplets are used to study atomic and molecular collisions, ionization, and reactions at near-zero temperatures, highlighting recent advances and applications in cold physics and chemistry.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of helium nanodroplet applications in studying clusters, complexes, and ions, emphasizing recent experimental and theoretical developments.

Findings

Helium nanodroplets enable cold collision and reaction studies.

Significant insights into ion behavior inside helium droplets.

Advances in understanding cluster formation at near-zero temperatures.

Abstract

This review has two principal aims. The first of these is to provide a comprehensive overview of the applications of HNDs in the study of collections of atoms and molecules, i.e. clusters and complexes. These clusters and complexes must form through collisions inside HNDs, hence the title of this review. A second aim is to provide a particularly detailed overview of the many studies of ions, both positive and negative, that have been carried out in HNDs.