FESHBACH RESONANCES IN ULTRACOLD ATOM-DIATOM SCATTERING

Quantum-mechanical scattering calculations of Feshbach resonances aris ing from van der Waals molecule formation are used to determine vibrat ional and rotational predissociation lifetimes. A multichannel effecti ve range theory is used to establish the relationship between predisso ciation and the zero-temperature limit of collisional quenching for re sonances lying close to the thresholds for dissociation. The elastic s cattering Feshbach resonances may be measurable in ultracold atom-mole cule experiments. [S1050-2947(98)51510-7].