Chemical Reactions of Li and CaH at 1 Kelvin
ORAL
Abstract
Using cryogenic helium buffer-gas cooling, we have prepared dense samples of atomic lithium and molecular calcium monohydride at temperatures as low as 1 Kelvin. We have measured the Li~+~CaH~$\rightarrow$~LiH~+~Ca chemical reaction, observed in both the accelerated disappearance of CaH and in the appearance of the LiH molecule. For unpolarized reactants, we have measured a reaction rate coefficient of $3.6\times10^{-10}$~cm$^3$~s$^{-1}$, with an uncertainty of a factor of 2. The methods of reaction rate measurement and detection of LiH molecules will be presented.
*This material is based upon work supported by National Science Foundation under Grant No. PHY 0900190
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