We use cold conditions and external fields to explore how reactive collisions occur. Cold environments – typically temperatures less than 1 Kelvin – allow us to control the properties of reactants. By manipulating the reaction conditions, we can unravel the role different parameters play in determining the outcome of a reactive collision. We use a number of techniques – including laser cooling, ion trapping and the application of external fields – to investigate reactions between ions and neutral species. We sensitively probe the reaction products using imaging and time-of-flight mass spectrometry detection methods.
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