Quantum effects in collisions between rare gas atoms and diatomic molecule ions

Using a combination between both theoretical and experimental techniques, we are able to understand Feshbach resonances occurring in collisions between atoms and molecules, such as for instance Ne-H₂⁺ and Ne-HD⁺, at a fundamental level.

For the collision regime of interest, in which a Penning ionisation prepares a broad superposition of energetic states, the outcome can depend sensitively on system properties including the symmetry, masses and the electronic structure of the participating particles.

Significantly, the distribution of population in final states is not captured by statistical models.

In this talk we will explore the connections between system properties, how they govern the measured and simulated outcomes and how theory and experiment can work hand in hand to obtain an ever more accurate picture of the underlying mechanisms at play.