Subkelvin cooling NO molecules via "billiard-like" collisions with argon.
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.
Elioff
Michael S
MS
Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
Valentini
James J
JJ
Chandler
David W
DW