Resonant control of elastic collisions between $^{23}$Na$^{40}$K molecules and $^{40}$K atoms

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the magnetic field tuning of elastic collisions between $^{23}$Na$^{40}$K molecules and $^{40}$K atoms near Feshbach resonances, revealing significant cross section variations and enabling advanced control of atom-molecule interactions.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed characterization of resonant elastic scattering control in atom-molecule mixtures near Feshbach resonances.

Findings

Elastic scattering cross sections vary by over two orders of magnitude near resonance.

Cross sections follow an asymmetric Fano profile.

Parameters for the magnetically tunable s-wave scattering length are extracted.

Abstract

We have demonstrated the resonant control of the elastic scattering cross sections in the vicinity of Feshbach resonances between $^{23}$Na$^{40}$K molecules and $^{40}$K atoms by studying the thermalization between them. The elastic scattering cross sections vary by more than two orders of magnitude close to the resonance, and can be well described by an asymmetric Fano profile. The parameters that characterize the magnetically tunable s-wave scattering length are determined from the elastic scattering cross sections. The observation of resonantly controlled elastic scattering cross sections opens up the possibility to study strongly interacting atom-molecule mixtures and improve our understanding of the complex atom-molecule Feshbach resonances.