Two-body scattering in a trap and a special periodic phenomenon sensitive to the interaction

Abstract

Two-body scattering of neutral particles in a trap is studied theoretically. The control of the initial state is realized by using optical traps. The collisions inside the trap occur repeatedly; thereby the effect of interaction can be accumulated. Two periodic phenomena with a shorter and a much longer period, respectively, are found. The latter is sensitive to the interaction. Instead of measuring the differential cross section as usually does, the measurement of the longer period and the details of the periodic behavior might be a valid source of information on weak interactions among neutral particles.