The topic of ion-pair states and collisions has seen fascinating developments recently, including spectroscopic observations of high-n heavy Rydberg molecules, continuing developments in laboratory measurements of mutual neutralization and of ion-pair dissociation, and the promise of trapping cold long-range molecules.  In each of these examples, the underlying physics is similar, but the implications range from spectroscopy and chemical dynamics, to astrophysics and cold atom physics.

This event will be a roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field which touches upon atomic and molecular physics, spectroscopy and astrophysics