title: Subkelvin cooling NO molecules via "billiard-like" collisions with argon.
abstract: We report the cooling of nitric oxide using a single collision between an argon atom and a molecule of NO. We have produced significant numbers (108 to 109 molecules per cubic centimeter per quantum state) of translationally cold NO molecules in a specific quantum state with an upper-limit root mean square laboratory velocity of 15 plus or minus 1 meters per second, corresponding to a 406 plus or minus 23 millikelvin upper limit of temperature, in a crossed molecular beam apparatus. The technique, which relies on a kinematic collapse of the velocity distributions of the molecular beams for the scattering events that produce cold molecules, is general and independent of the energy of the colliding partner.
authors.affiliation: Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Elioff
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chandler