Speaker: Yu Liu (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMD)
Title:Â Precision chemistry with ultracold molecules
Abstract:Â Over the past few decades, concurrent advances in experimental techniques in both quantum information science (QIS) and physical chemistry have enabled unprecedented control over simple molecules, both in terms of their lab-frame motions and their internal quantum states. In this talk, I will discuss the potential for these well-controlled molecules to advance two fundamental areas of physical chemistry: structure and dynamics. On the dynamics front, I will present a series of experiments performed on the exchange reaction between potassium-rubidium (KRb) molecules initiated at a temperature of 500 nK and with full quantum state control [1]. The results of these experiments demonstrate the potential for state-controlled ultracold molecules as a powerful platform to investigate fundamental questions in chemical reactions dynamics, such as the roles of interference and entanglement in guiding product formation, and factors influencing the complexity of reaction trajectories. On the spectroscopy front, I will present experiments on performing quantum state control [2] and high resolution vibrational spectroscopy on a single molecular ion. I will discuss how the exquisite spectroscopic precision enabled by the single molecular ion platform can help improve the determination of molecular structures, for applications in both chemistry and fundamental physics.
*You will need to bring your cell phone, so you can sign in using the QR code outside of ATL 2400. You will need to submit your first and last name, email and affiliation on a form by 11:15am to be able to get lunch after the seminar. Lunch is first come, first served.*  Also, this is the last seminar of the Spring 2024 semester.