%0 Journal Article
%T Quantum-state-controlled channel branching in cold Ne(3P2)+Ar chemi-ionization
%J -
%D 2018
%R https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-018-0152-2
%X A prerequisite to gain a complete understanding of the most basic aspects of chemical reactions is the ability to perform experiments with complete control over the reactant degrees of freedom. By controlling these, details of a reaction mechanism can be investigated and ultimately manipulated. Here, we present a study of chemi-ionization¡ªa fundamental energy-transfer reaction¡ªunder completely controlled conditions. The collision energy of the reagents was tuned from 0.02£¿K to 1,000£¿K, with the orientation of the excited Ne atom relative to Ar fully specified by an external magnetic field. Chemi-ionization of Ne(3P2) and Ar in these conditions enables a detailed investigation of how the reaction proceeds, and provides us with a means to control the branching ratio between the two possible reaction outcomes. The merged-beam experimental technique used here allows access to a low-energy regime in which the atoms dynamically reorient into a favourable configuration for reaction, irrespective of their initial orientations
%U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-018-0152-2