Cold Trapped Molecular Ions

One of the current themes in quantum physics is the creation of cold ( 1 K) molecules to study molecule-molecule, molecule-atom, and molecule-radiation interactions under these novel low-temperature conditions. This book highlights the field of cold trapped molecular ions. In particular, the development of a novel, universal cooling method for charged particles, sympathetic cooling using laser-cooled atoms, together with the experimental and computational techniques required are extensively reviewed. The book also reviews first spectacular applications of the cold ion ensembles produced: the study of the properties of cold non-neutral plasmas, the study of ion-neutral chemical reactions and of photodissociation processes, and high-resolution rotational overtone spectroscopy of cold hydrogen molecular ions with unprecedented spectral resolution. The large potential of this field of research and its possible impact to other fields of physics, chemistry, and biology are highlighted. The book summarizes the main lines of research in cold trapped molecular ion physics, thus, making it useful as an introduction for advanced students and experienced researchers. One of the current themes in quantum physics is the creationof cold (1 K) molecules to study molecule-molecule,molecule-atom, and molecule-radiation interactions under thesenovel low-temperature conditions. This book highlights the field ofcold trapped molecular ions. In particular, the development of anovel, universal cooling method for charged particles, sympatheticcooling using laser-cooled atoms, together with the experimentaland computational techniques required are extensively reviewed. Thebook also reviews first spectacular applications of the cold ionensembles produced: the study of the properties of cold non-neutralplasmas, the study of ion-neutral chemical reactions and ofphotodissociation processes, and high-resolution rotationalovertone spectroscopy of cold hydrogen molecular ions withunprecedented spectral resolution. The large potential of thisfield of research and its possible impact to other fields ofphysics, chemistry, and biology are highlighted. The booksummarizes the main lines of research in cold trapped molecular ionphysics, thus, making it useful as an introduction for advancedstudents and experienced researchers.