Cross sections for energy transfer in collisions between two excited sodium atoms

Journal Article · Mon Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1983 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.27.771· OSTI ID:6266445

Huennekens, J; Gallagher, A

We have measured cross sections, sigma/sub n/L, for the excitation transfer process Na(3P)+Na(3P)..-->..Na(3S)+Na(nL), where nL is the 4D or 5S level. Our results are sigma/sub 4D/ = 23 A/sup 2/ +- 35% and sigma/sub 5S/ = 16 A/sup 2/ +- 35% at Tapprox.600 K. To obtain these cross sections we have used pulsed excitation and measured the intensities of 4D, 5S, and 3P fluorescence emissions, and the spatial distribution of excited atoms resulting from radiation diffusion, as well as the excited atom density as a function of time. Additionally, we have accounted for (time-dependent) radiation trapping of 3P and nL level radiation and for the resulting anisotropies of these fluorescence emissions. Comparisons of our results with theory have been made, and their relevance to other experiments is discussed.

• Research Organization: Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, University of Colorado
• OSTI ID: 6266445
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 27:2; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640304* -- Atomic
Molecular & Chemical Physics-- Collision Phenomena
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ALKALI METALS
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
CROSS SECTIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXCITED STATES
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
METALS
SODIUM
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTROSCOPY
TIME DEPENDENCE