Electronic spin relaxation of the 4/sup 2/S/sub 1/2/ state of K induced by K-He and K-Ne collisions

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Phys. Rev. A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.26.85· OSTI ID:6804943

Franz, F A; Volk, C

Electronic and nuclear spin relaxation of optically pumped K atoms has been measured in the presence of He and Ne gases. The nuclear-spin-independent cross sections for the destruction of electronic spin polarization in the 4/sup 2/S/sub 1/2/ ground state of K are sigma(..gamma..(SxN))(K-He) = 8.0 x 10/sup -25/ cm/sup 2/ and sigma(..gamma..(SxN))(K-Ne) = 141 x 10/sup -25/ cm/sup 2/. The diffusion coefficients of K in He and Ne, corrected to 273 K, are D/sub 0/(K-He) = 0.35 cm/sup 2/ sec/sup -1/ and D/sub 0/(K-Ne) = 0.19 cm /sup 2/ sec/sup -1/. All measurements have an estimated uncertainty of +- 10%. The relaxation of K is shown to be strongly affected by an anomalous process which is attributed to the modification of the K hyperfine interaction induced by the formation of K-He and K-Ne van der Waals complexes.

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405
• OSTI ID: 6804943
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev. A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev. A; (United States) Vol. 26:1; 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
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
ATOM COLLISIONS
ATOM-ATOM COLLISIONS
COLLISIONS
COUPLING
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
INTERMEDIATE COUPLING
L-S COUPLING
METALS
NEON
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PUMPING
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
POTASSIUM
PUMPING
RARE GASES
RELAXATION
SPIN