Inelastic Collisions of Ultracold Polar Molecules

Abstract

The collisional stability of ultracold polar molecules in electrostatic traps is considered. Rate constants for collisions that drive molecules from weak-field-seeking to strong-field-seeking states are estimated using a simple model. The rates are found to be quite large, of order 10^{-12} - 10^{-10} cm^3/sec, and moreover to grow rapidly in an externally applied electric field. It is argued that these results are generic for polar molecules, and that therefore polar molecules should be trapped by other than electrostatic means.