title: Unraveling Cold Molecular Collisions: Stark Decelerators in Crossed-Beam Experiments.
abstract: In the last two decades, enormous progress has been made in the manipulation of molecular beams. In particular, molecular decelerators have been developed with which advanced control over neutral molecules in a beam can be achieved. By using arrays of inhomogeneous and time-varying electric (or magnetic) fields, bunches of molecules can be produced with a tunable velocity, narrow velocity spreads, and almost perfect quantum-state purity. These monochromatic or "tamed" molecular beams are ideally suited to be used in crossed-molecular-beam scattering experiments. Here, we review the first generation of these "cold and controlled" scattering experiments that have been conducted in the last decade and discuss the prospects for this emerging field of research in the years to come.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jolijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onvlee
authors.affiliation: Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sjoerd N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Vogels
authors.affiliation: Radboud University, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Heijendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sebastiaan Y T
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: van de Meerakker
keywords: Stark deceleration; ab initio calculations; cold molecules; crossed-beam experiments; laser chemistry