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SPIN-EXCHANGE CROSS SECTION FOR Rb$sup 85$-Rb$sup 87$ COLLISIONS

Journal Article · · Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D
The spin-exchange cross section for Rb/sup 85/--Rb/sup 87/ collisions was measured to be (1.70 plus or minus 0.21) x 10/sup -14/ cm/sup 2/ using the techniques of optical pumping and an interferometric method for measuring the Rb vapor density. The Rb/sup 87/ constituent in a vapor of natural Rb was polarized through absorption of circularly polarized resonance radiation, and the Rb/sup 87/ polarization was partially transferred to the Rb/sup 85/ constituent through spin-exchange collisions. A phenomenological theory of the optical pumping plus the exchange polarization process that neglects nuclear spin was used to relate the cross section to the ratio of the signal strengihs for the Rb/sup 87/ and Rb/ sup 85/ Zeeman resonances, the relaxation time, and the Rb/sup 87/ vapor density. The density was measured by comparing spectral profiles of the resonance radiation transmitted through the optical pumping cell at room temperature with the resonance radiation transmitted at the temperature at which the signal strengths were measured. These spectral profiles were obtained through use of a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. (auth)
Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
NSA Number:
NSA-18-006233
OSTI ID:
4117491
Journal Information:
Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D, Journal Name: Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys. Rev. A, Phys. Rev. B: Solid State, Phys. Rev. C, and Phys. Rev. D Vol. Vol: 133; ISSN PHRVA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English