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arXiv · 1310.7279

Vibrational quenching of the electronic ground state in ThO in cold collisions with $^3$He

Yat Shan Au·Colin B. Connolly·Wolfgang Ketterle·John M. Doyle
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Abstract

We measure the ratio $γ$ of the momentum-transfer to the vibrational quenching cross section for the X ($^1Σ^+$), $ν=1$, $\mathrm{J=0}$ state of molecular thorium monoxide (ThO) in collisions with atomic $^3$He between 800 mK and 2.4 K. We observe indirect evidence for ThO--He van der Waals' complex formation, which has been predicted by theory. We determine the 3-body recombination rate constant $Γ_3$ at 2.4 K, and establish that the binding energy E$_b >$ 4 K.

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Yat Shan Au, Colin B. Connolly, Wolfgang Ketterle, John M. Doyle. 2013-10-27. Vibrational quenching of the electronic ground state in ThO in cold collisions with $^3$He. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.90.032703

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