Observing Young-type double-slit interference in slow- and intermediate-velocity ion-molecule collisions

We study the fragmentation dynamics of CO molecules in slow- (0.16 a.u. ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{4+}$) and intermediate- (1.41 a.u. ${\mathrm{He}}^{2+}$) velocity electron capture collisions. The kinetic energy release distributions of the ${\mathrm{C}}^{+}+{\mathrm{O}}^{+}$ fragmentation channel show the variation of energy depositions during the collisions for the associated capture paths. We have also observed molecular-axis orientation-dependent variations in the angle-differential cross sections for the double-electron capture and transfer ionization processes. A simple mathematical model based on Young's optical double-slit experiment has been invoked. The variations are attributed to the molecular double-slit-type interference phenomena arising from the interference between the two outgoing de Broglie waves formed by electron capture. The asymmetry in the interference pattern due to the scattering phase gives insight into the role of the quantum phenomena in characterizing such collision dynamics. Our study thus provides general evidence of the wave-particle duality in low to highly perturbative ion-molecule collisions.