Universal relations for ultracold reactive molecules

TL;DR

This paper establishes universal relations linking two-body loss rates of ultracold reactive molecules to measurable physical observables, emphasizing the role of contacts in quantum many-body systems, and broadening understanding across multiple physics disciplines.

Contribution

It introduces universal relations connecting two-body losses to physical observables in ultracold molecules, highlighting the fundamental role of contacts in quantum reactive processes.

Findings

Universal relations valid for arbitrary parameters

Contacts determine reaction rates in many-body environments

Links two-body losses to momentum and density correlations

Abstract

The realization of ultracold polar molecules in laboratories has pushed both physics and chemistry to new realms. In particular, these polar molecules offer scientists unprecedented opportunities to explore chemical reactions in the ultracold regime where quantum effects become profound. However, a key question about how two-body losses depend on quantum correlations in an interacting many-body system remains open so far. Here, we present a number of universal relations that directly connect two-body losses to other physical observables, including the momentum distribution and density correlation functions. These relations, which are valid for arbitrary microscopic parameters, such as the particle number, the temperature, and the interaction strength, unfold the critical role of contacts, a fundamental quantity of dilute quantum systems in determining the reaction rate of quantum reactive molecules in a many-body environment. Our work opens the door to an unexplored area intertwining quantum chemistry, atomic, molecular and optical physics, and condensed matter physics.