An Introduction to Cold and Ultracold Chemistry: atoms, molecules, ions and Rydbergs
Overview:
This book provides advanced undergraduate and graduate students with an overview of the fundamentals of cold and ultracold chemistry. Beginning with definitions of what cold and ultracold temperatures mean in chemistry the book then takes the student through the essentials of scattering theory (classical and quantum mechanical), light-matter interaction, reaction dynamics and Rydberg physics. The author aims to show the reader the richness of the topic while motivating students to understand the fundamentals of these intriguing reactions and underlying connecting relationships. Including material which was previously only found in specialized review articles, this book provides students working in the fields of ultracold gases, chemical physics and physical chemistry with the tools they need to immerse themselves in the realm of cold and ultracold chemistry. This book opens up the exciting chemical laws which govern chemistry at low temperatures to the next generation of researchers.
Termolecular Reactions
Abstract:
Termolecular reactions, or third-order chemical reactions, involve three reactants that react to form the reaction products, A + B + C -> Products. It has been said, written, and thought that termolecular reactions are unlikely since they require three reactants. However, it turns out that these reactions play an essential role in physical sciences with relevance in systems ranging from ultracold atoms to plasma chemistry, thus spanning over 14 decades of energy. In this chapter, we will introduce scenarios in which termolecular reactions play a role and are key to explaining intriguing chemical and physical phenomena, such as the Great Oxygenation Event. A brief overview of the two main perspectives – indirect and direct approaches – is presented, serving as an introduction to the other chapters of the book.