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STUDY OF THE SPIN-RELAXATION TIMES AND THE EFFECTS OF SPIN-EXCHANGE COLLISIONS IN AN OPTICALLY ORIENTED SODIUM VAPOR

Journal Article · · Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys.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-relaxation time of an optically oriented sodium vapor diffusing in a helium or neon buffer gas was measured and analyzed by the method of Franzen. The diffusion coefficients for sodium in helium and neon are 1.0 plus or minus 0.3 and 0.50 plus or minus 0.17 cm/sup 2//sec, respectively. The disorientation cross sections for sodium colliding with helium and neon are (3 plus or minus 4) x 10/sup -26/ and (1.8 plus or minus 0.6) x 10/sup -24/ cm/ sup 2/, respectiv ely. The radio-frequency Zeeman transitions of the sodium atoms in the ground state were examined. An analysis of the effects of spin- exchange collisions between sodium atoms on the intensities and line shapes of the various Zeeman transitions is presented. From these studies a spin exchange cross section of (1 --3) x 10/sup -14/ cm is estimated for two sodium atoms colliding. The main source of error in this measurement is probably lack of knowledge of the sodium vapor pressure in the sodium-absorption cells. (auth)
Research Organization:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
NSA Number:
NSA-17-039771
OSTI ID:
4628001
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Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys.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 D, Journal Name: Physical Review (U.S.) Superseded in part by Phys.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: 132; ISSN PHRVA
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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