Inaugural lecture: Unraveling quantum effects in cold molecular collisions
- Colloquium

Inaugural lecture: Unraveling quantum effects in cold molecular collisions
At low collisions energies where particle's' de Broglie wavelength reaches the characteristic dimensions of intermolecular interactions, molecular dynamics become dominated by quantum phenomena. This regime is difficult to reach with naturally occurring molecules due to the absence of general cooling methods. We will discuss our developments that enabled measurements of quantum scattering phenomena, including shape and Feshbach resonances, with cold molecules using magnetically merged atomic and molecular beams. I will show how these quantum fingerprints can be used to probe intermolecular interactions and quantum symmetry effects with near spectroscopic resolution. I will also highlight our latest efforts towards the generation of quantum degenerate gas of molecules.
![Band structure of 2D semimetal based on HgTe quantum well. Experimental points are obtained from the analysis of the cyclotron resonance in the quasi-classical approximation. Solid lines are predictions of the kp theory with no free parameters. Splitting of the conduction (e1,2) and valence (h1) band is due to the quantum confinement. [J. Gospodaric, AP, et al., PRB 104, 115307].](/storages/physik/_processed_/b/5/csm_Kolloquium_Pimenov_0fa7761647.png)





