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dc.contributor.advisorDoyle, John M.
dc.contributor.authorAu, Yat Shan
dc.date.accessioned2014-06-06T17:33:53Z
dc.date.issued2014-06-06
dc.date.submitted2014
dc.identifier.citationAu, Yat Shan. 2014. Inelastic collisions of atomic thorium and molecular thorium monoxide with cold helium-3. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University.en_US
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:11318en
dc.identifier.urihttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:12274226
dc.description.abstractWe measure inelastic cross sections for atomic thorium (Th) and molecular thorium monoxide (ThO) in collisions with $^3$He at temperatures near 1 K. We determine the Zeeman relaxation cross section for Th ($^3$F$_2$) to be $\sim 2 \times 10^{-17}$~cm$^{-2}$ at 800~mK. We study electronic inelastic processes in Th ($^3$P$_0$) and find no quenching even after $10^6$ collisions at 800~mK. We measure the vibrational quenching cross section for ThO~(X,~$\nu=1$) to be $(7.9 \pm 2.7) \times 10^{-19}$~cm$^{-2}$ at 800~mK. Finally, we observe indirect evidence for ThO (X, $\nu=0$)--$^3$He van der Waals complex formation, and measure the 3-body recombination rate constant to be $\Gamma_3 = (8 \pm 2) \times 10^{-33}$~cm$^6$s$^{-1}$ at 2.4~K. The stability of the ground Th ($^3$F$_2$) state, metastable Th ($^3$P$_0$) state, and vibrational excited ThO (X, $\nu=1$) state provides data on anisotropic interactions in new systems and opens up the possibility for further studies and experiments, including trapping.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipPhysicsen_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dash.licenseLAA
dc.subjectPhysicsen_US
dc.subjectbuffer gas coolingen_US
dc.subjectthoriumen_US
dc.subjectthorium monoxideen_US
dc.titleInelastic collisions of atomic thorium and molecular thorium monoxide with cold helium-3en_US
dc.typeThesis or Dissertationen_US
dash.depositing.authorAu, Yat Shan
dc.date.available2014-06-06T17:33:53Z
thesis.degree.date2014en_US
thesis.degree.disciplinePhysicsen_US
thesis.degree.grantorHarvard Universityen_US
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.namePh.D.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberGabrielse, Geralden_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberJafferis, Danielen_US
dash.contributor.affiliatedAu, Yat Shan


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