Spin-state-controlled chemi-ionization reactions between metastable helium atoms and ground-state lithium atoms
Atomic Physics
2022-03-25 v1
Abstract
We demonstrate the control of He(2S)-Li(2S) chemi-ionization reactions by all-optical electron-spin-state preparation of both atomic species prior to the collision process. Our results demonstrate that chemi-ionization is strongly suppressed (enhanced) for non-spin-conserving (spin-conserving) collisions at thermal energies. These findings are in good agreement with a model based on spin angular momentum coupling of the prepared atomic states to the quasi-molecular states. Small deviations from the model indicate the contribution of the channel to the reaction rate which is in violation of spin conservation.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2203.12974,
title = {Spin-state-controlled chemi-ionization reactions between metastable helium atoms and ground-state lithium atoms},
author = {Tobias Sixt and Frank Stienkemeier and Katrin Dulitz},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.12974},
year = {2022}
}