A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Zero-energy resonances in ultracold hydrogen sticking to liquid helium films of finite thickness




AuthorsKarakhanyan, R.; Nesvizhevsky, V.; Semakin, A.; Vasiliev, S.; Voronin, A.

PublisherAmerican Physical Society (APS)

Publication year2026

Journal: Physical Review B

Article number035421

Volume113

Issue3

ISSN2469-9950

eISSN2469-9969

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1103/7dnl-4zpp

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingNo Open Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1103/7dnl-4zpp


Abstract

We investigated quantum states of ultracold hydrogen atoms in a combined potential comprising the H-He film interaction in the presence of a substrate and the Earth's gravitational field. We show that the shift and width of the gravitational quantum states are determined by the complex scattering length for the H-He film/substrate potential. We demonstrate that for specific helium film thicknesses above a substrate, zero-energy resonances occur if the combined potential supports a bound state exactly at the threshold. This effect leads to a complete restructuring of the bound states spectrum. The dynamics of gravitational levels as a function of the van der Waals interaction depth—controlled by the helium film thickness—is analyzed. It reveals the critical thicknesses of ∼6.1 and ∼1.8nm, at which resonances appear in the case of the conductive substrate. With imaginary integral operators, we incorporate nonperturbatively the inelastic effects originating from the ripplon coupling. The inelastic effects show dramatic changes in the sticking-coefficient behavior near the critical points. The enhanced sticking coefficients provide a probe for studying critical phenomena and measuring atom-surface interaction parameters with unprecedented sensitivity.


Funding information in the publication
We acknowledge helpful discussions with colleagues in the gravitational quantum states community and support from relevant funding agencies. A.S. and S.V. thank the Jenny and Antti Wihuri foundation for financial support. Special thanks to the GRASIAN collaboration for motivating this theoretical investigation.


Last updated on 13/02/2026 07:23:07 AM