Elastic Rate Coefficients of Li+H2 collisions in the calibration of a Cold Atom Vacuum Sensor

Published

April 29, 2019

Author(s)

Constantinos Makrides, Daniel Barker, Julia Scherschligt, Stephen Eckel, Eite Tiesinga

Abstract

On going efforts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in creating a Cold Atom Vacuum Sensor device have prompted theoretical investigations of atom-molecule collisions processes that characterize its operation. Such a device will operate as a primary standard for the Ultra-High- Vacuum and Extreme-High-Vacuum regimes. This device operates by relating loss of microK lithium atoms from a conservative trap by collisions with ambient atoms and molecules to the background density and thus pressure through the ideal gas law. The predominant background constituent in these environments is molecular hydrogen H2 . We compute the relevant Li+H2 Born-Oppenheimer potential energy surface, paying special attention to its uncertainty. Coupled-channels calculations are then used to obtain total rate coefficients. We find that H2 rotational quenching is negligible near room temperature. For a T = 300 K gas of H2 and 1.0 μK gas of Li atoms prepared in a single hyperfine state, the total rate coefficients are 5.91(4) × 10−9 cm3 /s and 6.00(4) × 10−9 cm3 /s for 6 Li and 7 Li isotopes, respectively, where the numbers in parenthesis corresponds to a one-standard- deviation combined statistical and systematic uncertainty. We find that a ten degree Kelvin increase in the H2 temperature leads to a 1.8% increase in the rate coefficients for both isotopes. Finally, a semi-classical Born approximation significantly overestimates the rate coefficients. The difference is at least ten times the uncertainty of the coupled-channels result.

Citation

Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics)

Volume

99

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

pressure sensor, UHV, ultracold atoms

Citation

Makrides, C. , Barker, D. , Scherschligt, J. , Eckel, S. and Tiesinga, E. (2019), Elastic Rate Coefficients of Li+H2 collisions in the calibration of a Cold Atom Vacuum Sensor, Physical Review A (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics), [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.99.042704 (Accessed October 9, 2025)