The elastic scattering amplitudes of indistinguishable, bosonic, strongly polar molecules possess universal properties at the coldest temperatures due to wave propagation in the long-range dipole-dipole field. Universal scattering cross sections and anisotropic threshold angular distributions, independent of molecular species, result from careful tuning of the dipole moment with an applied electric field. Three distinct families of threshold resonances also occur for specific field strengths, and can be both qualitatively and quantitatively predicted using elementary adiabatic and semiclassical techniques. The temperatures and densities of heteronuclear molecular gases required to observe these universal characteristics are predicted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number014701
JournalPhysical Review A - Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
Volume79
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 Jan 2009

    Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

ID: 37232939