Fraunhofer diffraction of atomic matter waves: Electron transfer studies with a laser cooled target - art. no. 123201

We have constructed an apparatus combining the experimental techniques of c old target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy and a laser cooled target. We m easure angle differential cross sections in Li+ + Na --> Li + Na+ electron transfer collisions in the keV energy regime with a momentum resolution of 0.12 a.u. yielding an order of magnitude better angular resolution than pre vious measurements. We resolve Fraunhofer-type diffraction patterns in the differential cross sections. Good agreement with predictions of the semicla ssical. impact parameter method is obtained.