Collisional relaxation of excited-state Zeeman coherences in atomic ytterbium vapor

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.32.844· OSTI ID:5639883

Yodh, A G; Golub, J; Mossberg, T W

We present the results of an experiment designed to probe the collision-induced relaxation of excited-state Yb Zeeman coherences. Our experiment is sensitive not only to the depolarization-type relaxation mechanisms often observed in optical-pumping experiments, but also to the effects of collisionally induced velocity changes. Our measurements were performed in the 6s6p /sup 3/P/sub 1/ excited state of the even (I = 0) isotopes of gas-phase atomic Yb by means of a trilevel photon-echo technique. Depolarization rates, velocity-change spectra, and total scattering cross sections of Yb-He (Yb-Ar) collisions were measured (deduced). Both rank-1 and rank-2 spherical tensor components of the /sup 3/P/sub 1/ state play a role in our experiment, and our results represent averages of potentially different relaxation rates attributable to these quantities. Comparison of our results with rank-0 results obtained elsewhere reveals interesting similarities as well as differences.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
• OSTI ID: 5639883
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 32:2; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640302* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Atomic & Molecular Properties & Theory
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ARGON
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DATA
DEPOLARIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
INFORMATION
METALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
RARE EARTHS
RARE GASES
RELAXATION
TOTAL CROSS SECTIONS
YTTERBIUM
ZEEMAN EFFECT