Production of cold formaldehyde molecules for study and control of chemical reaction dynamics with hydroxyl radicals

Journal Article · Thu Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Physical Review. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVA.73.0· OSTI ID:20787528

Hudson, Eric R; Ticknor, Christopher; Sawyer, Brian C; Taatjes, Craig A; Lewandowski, H J; Bochinski, J R; Bohn, J L; Jun, Ye ^[1]

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1. JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309-0440 (United States)

We propose a method for controlling a class of low temperature chemical reactions. Specifically, we show the hydrogen abstraction channel in the reaction of formaldehyde (H{sub 2}CO) and the hydroxyl radical (OH) can be controlled through either the molecular state or an external electric field. We also outline experiments for investigating and demonstrating control over this important reaction. To this end, we report the first Stark deceleration of H{sub 2}CO. We have decelerated a molecular beam of H{sub 2}CO essentially to rest, producing molecules at 100 mK with a density of {approx}10{sup 6} cm{sup -3}.

• OSTI ID: 20787528
• Journal Information: Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 73; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
DENSITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
FORMALDEHYDE
HYDROGEN
HYDROXYL RADICALS
MOLECULAR BEAMS
MOLECULES
REACTION KINETICS
STARK EFFECT