Roaming pathways and survival probability in real-time collisional dynamics of cold and controlled bialkali molecules

Abstract

Abstract Perfectly controlled molecules are at the forefront of the quest to explore chemical reactivity at ultra low temperatures. Here, we investigate for the first time the formation of the long-lived intermediates in the time-dependent scattering of cold bialkali $$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$ 23 Na 87 Rb molecules with and without the presence of infrared trapping light. During the nearly 50 nanoseconds mean collision time of the intermediate complex, we observe unconventional roaming when for a few tens of picoseconds either NaRb or $$\hbox {Na}_2$$ Na 2 and $$\hbox {Rb}_2$$ Rb 2 molecules with large relative separation are formed before returning to the four-atom complex. We also determine the likelihood of molecular loss when the trapping laser is present during the collision. We find that at a wavelength of 1064 nm the $$\hbox {Na}_2\hbox {Rb}_2$$ Na 2 Rb 2 complex is quickly destroyed and thus that the $$^{23}\hbox {Na}^{87}$$ 23 Na 87 Rb molecules are rapidly lost.