# Direct observation of bimolecular reactions of ultracold KRb molecules

## TL;DR

This study directly observes bimolecular reactions of ultracold KRb molecules at nanokelvin temperatures, revealing long-lived intermediates and opening new avenues for quantum-state resolved reaction dynamics research.

## Contribution

It presents the first direct observation of reaction intermediates in ultracold KRb molecules, demonstrating prolonged intermediate lifetimes and advanced spectroscopic techniques at ultralow temperatures.

## Key findings

- Observation of long-lived reaction intermediates
- Detection of reactants, intermediates, and products via spectroscopy
- Revealing quantum-state resolved reaction pathways

## Abstract

Femtochemistry techniques have been instrumental in accessing the short time scales necessary to probe transient intermediates in chemical reactions. Here we take the contrasting approach of prolonging the lifetime of an intermediate by preparing reactant molecules in their lowest ro-vibronic quantum state at ultralow temperatures, thereby drastically reducing the number of exit channels accessible upon their mutual collision. Using ionization spectroscopy and velocity-map imaging of a trapped gas of potassium-rubidium molecules at a temperature of 500~nK, we directly observe reactants, intermediates, and products of the reaction $^{40}$K$^{87}$Rb + $^{40}$K$^{87}$Rb $\rightarrow$ K$_2$Rb$^*_2$ $\rightarrow$ K$_2$ + Rb$_2$. Beyond observation of a long-lived energy-rich intermediate complex, this technique opens the door to further studies of quantum-state resolved reaction dynamics in the ultracold regime.