Jost function description of near threshold resonances for coupled-channel scattering

Abstract

We study the effect of resonances near the threshold of low energy ($\varepsilon$) reactive scattering processes, and find an anomalous behavior of the $s$-wave cross sections. For reaction and inelastic processes, the cross section exhibits the energy dependence $\sigma\sim\varepsilon^{-3/2}$ instead of the standard Wigner's law threshold behavior $\sigma\sim\varepsilon^{-1/2}$. Wigner's law is still valid as $\varepsilon\rightarrow 0$, but in a narrow range of energies. We illustrate these effects with two reactive systems, a low-reactive system (H$_2$ + Cl) and a more reactive one (H$_2$ + F). We provide analytical expressions, and explain this anomalous behavior using the properties of the Jost functions. We also discuss the implication of the reaction rate coefficients behaving as $K\sim 1/T$ at low temperatures, instead of the expected constant rate of the Wigner regime in ultracold physics and chemistry.