Product-state distribution after isotopic substitution in ultracold atom-molecule collisions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that isotopic substitution reactions in ultracold molecules produce cold products with low translational energy and potentially controllable reaction pathways using electric fields, opening new research avenues.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that isotopic substitution in ultracold molecules results in cold reaction products and explores electric field control of these reactions.

Findings

Reaction products are cold below hundreds of mK.

Products occupy only the lowest rotational states.

Electric fields can potentially control reaction outcomes.

Abstract

We show that products of the isotopic substitution reactions in experimentally accessible molecules such as NaK, RbCs, and SrF are cold according to their translational energy below hundreds of mK. For these chemical reactions, molecular products may occupy only the lowest rotational states. We also discuss the possibility of controlling the chemical reactions by the electric field in ultracold mixtures of molecules and atoms with low kinetic energy release, where one of the constituent atoms of colliding molecule is replaced by its isotope. This letter opens new avenues in investigating the branching ratios of chemical reactions in ultracold conditions.