Researchers from the University of Chicago have published the first evidence of quantum superchemistry . The findings open the door to the...
Researchers from the University of Chicago have published the first evidence of quantum superchemistry. The findings open the door to the development of new materials using ultra cold chemistry.
We have good knowledge of how atoms and molecules behave and react under normal conditions (temperature, pressure, etc). However, when we use extreme conditions (for example, near absolute temperatures) atoms and molecules start acting very differently, and we cannot longer assume that they act independently from each other.
In this investigation they studied a very simple reaction but it proved the principle, Cs atoms to form Cs2 molecules. They performed the reaction under ultra cold temperatures reaching the same quantum states for all the atoms. What is interesting, is that they found a quasi linear relationship between the rate of the reaction and how many particles are involved. The reaction got faster as the density of the system increased, suggesting that atoms act collectively pushing or "forcing" other nearby atoms to react, which under normal conditions it would not happen. The researchers now want to investigate this phenomenon with larger molecules and more complex reactions.
