Field control of cold molecular dipolar collisions
At extremely low temperatures, nature operates under the rules of quantum mechanics, where matter behaves more like waves than particles. The project entitled 'Field control of cold molecular dipolar collisions' aims to explore this quantum realm by studying molecular collisions at temperatures as low as 10 mK. These collisions, specifically between dipolar molecules like NO and ND3, have potential to reveal unusual phenomena that have been described in theory but not yet observed experimentally.
Molecular scattering is a fundamental aspect of chemistry, and understanding it in greater detail opens up new possibilities for manipulating reaction outcomes. At ultracold temperatures, below 1 Kelvin, molecular interactions are governed by quantum mechanics, presenting unique opportunities to control and study these processes. Systems with electric dipole-dipole interactions are particularly intriguing because they allow manipulation of collisions using external electromagnetic fields.
The research team will develop innovative methods to study these dipole-dipole interactions, focusing on the effects of external electric fields on collision outcomes. By precisely controlling the velocity and quantum states of NO and ND3 molecules, and merging their trajectories in a novel geometry, the researchers will probe the scattering mechanisms with unprecedented precision. The results could advance the field, from observing nature to actively manipulating it. With this, they will provide deeper insights into the behavior of ultracold dipolar molecules.
Spectroscopy of cold molecules
Van de Meerakker is head of the Spectroscopy of Cold Molecules group, which is part of IMM. He studies molecular collisions, a process that happens all around us in environments ranging from the earth’s atmosphere to interstellar space. This mechanism is still not fully understood. The group aims to tackle this by colliding neutral molecules at the lowest possible temperatures. At low temperatures, the number of degrees of freedom reduces, giving the unique opportunity to directly observe what is going on.
NWO Open Competition Domain Science-M
NWO Open Competition Domain Science-M (ENW-M) grants are intended for curiosity-driven scientific research of high quality. The ENW-M grant offers researchers the opportunity to elaborate original, innovative, risky ideas and to realise scientific innovations that can form the basis for the research themes of the future.
We warmly congratulate Bas with his grant!
