We present a theoretical investigation of the chemical reaction SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ products, focusing on reactions at ultralow temperatures. We find that bond swapping SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ Sr ${}_{2}$ $+$ ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ is energetically forbidden at these temperatures. Rather, the only energetically allowed reaction is SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ SrF ${}_{2}$ $+$ Sr, and even then only singlet states of the SrF ${}_{2}$ trimer can form. A calculation along a reduced reaction path demonstrates that this abstraction reaction is barrierless and proceeds by one SrF molecule ``handing off'' a fluorine atom to the other molecule.We present a theoretical investigation of the chemical reaction SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ products, focusing on reactions at ultralow temperatures. We find that bond swapping SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ Sr${}_{2}$ $+$ ${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ is energetically forbidden at these temperatures. Rather, the only energetically allowed reaction is SrF $+$ SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ SrF${}_{2}$ $+$ Sr, and even then only singlet states of the SrF${}_{2}$ trimer can form. A calculation along a reduced reaction path demonstrates that this abstraction reaction is barrierless and proceeds by one SrF molecule ``handing off'' a fluorine atom to the other molecule.

arXiv:1101.4671Physical Review AMar 23, 201124 citations

Forbidden transitions of ultracold Sr

_2

molecules

Precision spectroscopy of ultracold Sr

_2

molecules in an optical lattice

Ultracold

{ }^{88}\mathrm {Sr}_2

Molecules in the Absolute Ground State

We present a theoretical investigation of the chemical reaction SrF

+

SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ products, focusing on reactions at ultralow temperatures. We find that bond swapping SrF

+

SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ Sr

{}_{2}

+

{\mathrm{F}}_{2}

is energetically forbidden at these temperatures. Rather, the only energetically allowed reaction is SrF

+

SrF $\ensuremath{\rightarrow}$ SrF

{}_{2}

+

Sr, and even then only singlet states of the SrF

{}_{2}

trimer can form. A calculation along a reduced reaction path demonstrates that this abstraction reaction is barrierless and proceeds by one SrF molecule ``handing off'' a fluorine atom to the other molecule.