@article{4067, author = {Joschka Wolf and Markus Deiß and Artjom Krükow and Eberhard Tiemann and Brandon Ruzic and Yujun Wang and Jose D'Incao and Paul Julienne and Johannes Denschlag}, title = {State-to-state chemistry for three-body recombination in an ultracold rubidium gas}, abstract = {

Experimental investigation of chemical reactions with full quantum state resolution for all reactants and products has been a long-term challenge. Here we prepare an ultracold few-body quantum state of reactants and demonstrate state-to-state chemistry for the recombination of three spin-polarized ultracold rubidium (Rb) atoms to form a weakly bound Rb2\ molecule. The measured product distribution covers about 90\% of the final products, and we are able to discriminate between product states with a level splitting as small as 20 megahertz multiplied by Planck\textquoterights constant. Furthermore, we formulate propensity rules for the distribution of products, and we develop a theoretical model that predicts many of our experimental observations. The scheme can readily be adapted to other species and opens a door to detailed investigations of inelastic or reactive processes.

}, year = {2017}, journal = {Science}, volume = {358}, pages = {921-924}, month = {2017-11}, issn = {0036-8075}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29146811}, doi = {10.1126/science.aan8721}, }