Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics
Acceleration of the chemical reaction of trapped Ca ions with H2O molecules by laser excitation
K. Okada, M. Wada, L.G.J. Boesten, T. Nakamura, Ichiro Katayama, S. Ohtani
Abstract
The reactivity of laser-excited Ca +* ions in 3 2 D J ( J = 3/2, 5/2) states with neutral H 2 O molecules was experimentally investigated. The reaction-product ions were sympathetically cooled by laser-cooled 40 Ca + ions and detected by laser-induced fluorescence mass spectroscopy. The reaction rate coefficient of Ca +* (D J ) + H 2 O → products was found to be 1.8(1) × 10 3 s −1 Pa −1 at an ion temperature of T = 3.1(1) × 10 3 K. The ion temperature dependence of the reaction rate coefficient was also measured for buffer-gas-cooled Ca + ions.