Direct Evidence of Breakdown of Spin Statistics in Ion-Atom Charge Exchange Collisions

Recent experimental studies have questioned the validity of spin statistics assumptions, particularly in charge exchange processes occurring in atomic MeV collisions. Here, we study spin-resolved single electron capture processes in collisions between C^{3+} ions and helium within an energy range of 1.25-400 keV/u. Using high resolution reaction microscope and multielectronic theoretical approaches, we directly measure and calculate the true population information of the C^{2+}(1s^{2}2s2p ^{1,3}P) states at the time of electron capture, overcoming the previous experimental and theoretical difficulties. At the level of integral and scattering angle differential cross sections, our results demonstrate the breakdown of pure spin statistics arguments, especially at high impact energies where they are traditionally expected to be valid. These novel findings and conclusions raise intriguing questions both in the understanding of the electronic dynamics during such fast collisional processes and in exploring quantum manipulation of atomic and molecular reactivity.

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Publication Details

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Published
2024-10-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.133.173002
Citations
11
Primary Topic
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
3.71

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article

Direct Evidence of Breakdown of Spin Statistics in Ion-Atom Charge Exchange Collisions

S. Passalidis, Xiaolong Zhu, R. T. Zhang, Alain Dubois et al.
11 citations
Physical Review Letters
Atomic and Molecular Physics
3.71
article

Direct Evidence of Breakdown of Spin Statistics in Ion-Atom Charge Exchange Collisions

S. Passalidis, Xiaolong Zhu, R. T. Zhang, Alain Dubois, X. Ma, Dalong Guo, Shaofeng Zhang, Shucheng Cui, Kaizhao Lin, Yong Gao, Dongmei Zhao, Xubin Zhu, Jiawei Xu, D. Xing
article en
11 citations

Abstract

Recent experimental studies have questioned the validity of spin statistics assumptions, particularly in charge exchange processes occurring in atomic MeV collisions. Here, we study spin-resolved single electron capture processes in collisions between C^{3+} ions and helium within an energy range of 1.25-400 keV/u. Using high resolution reaction microscope and multielectronic theoretical approaches, we directly measure and calculate the true population information of the C^{2+}(1s^{2}2s2p ^{1,3}P) states at the time of electron capture, overcoming the previous experimental and theoretical difficulties. At the level of integral and scattering angle differential cross sections, our results demonstrate the breakdown of pure spin statistics arguments, especially at high impact energies where they are traditionally expected to be valid. These novel findings and conclusions raise intriguing questions both in the understanding of the electronic dynamics during such fast collisional processes and in exploring quantum manipulation of atomic and molecular reactivity.

Physical Review LettersVol. 133(17)
University of Science and Technology of China (CN), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Sorbonne Université (FR), Ji Hua Laboratory (CN), Advanced Energy (United States) (US), Institute of Modern Physics (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Laboratoire Médiations (FR), PRG S&Tech (South Korea), Northwest Normal University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China
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Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Atomic and Molecular Physics
3.71
DOISourceOpenAlex
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