Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Molecular-beam magnetic-resonance measurement of the spin-rotational interaction in RbKr

William E. Cooke, Richard R. Freeman

Published Dec 1, 1977• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have investigated the spin-rotation interaction in the van der Waals molecule RbKr using molecular-beam magnetic-resonance techniques. The bound $^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ molecules were produced in an expansion-cooled molecular beam and the interaction between the electronic spin angular momentum ($\ensuremath{\hbar}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$) of the rubidium valence electron and the rotational angular momentum ($\ensuremath{\hbar}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}$) of the molecule was probed by magnetic resonance. A value for the strength of the interaction and a model of its dependence upon the internuclear separation were obtained. Results of numerical calculations of all bound and quasibound vibrational-rotational states of the RbKr ground-state potential are presented. These wave functions permit a detailed comparison of the results obtained by this technique and those obtained by M. Bouchiat et al. using optical-pumping techniques in a high-temperature gas cell. Excellent agreement is obtained when all of the relevant molecular states are considered.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.16.2211

Related papers

RF experiments on Rb-rare-gas Van der Waals molecules

Marie-Anne Bouchiat, Lionel Pottier

We have detected the action of a rf field on Rb-Kr and Rb-Ar molecules by optical pumping techniques. At a low rare-gas pressure, the experiment can be compared with one of magnetic resonance performed on these molecules. It provides significant information about the dependence of the spin-orbit interaction strength on the rotation-vibrational state of the molecule. Preliminary experimental results are in excellent quantitative agreement with the theory.

Journal de physique•Jan 1, 1972•17 citations

The spin–rotation interaction in the van der Waals molecule KAr

Richard R. Freeman, Edward M. Mattison, David E. Pritchard +1 more

We report a study, by molecular beam methods, of the alkali–rare gas van der Waals molecule KAr. Paramagnetic potassium–argon molecules were produced in a supersonic molecular beam, and their magnetic hyperfine structure probed by resonance techniques. The principle interaction studied is the spin–rotational coupling of the spin angular momentum h/S of the alkali valence electron and the rotational angular momentum h/N of the molecule. The measured value of the interaction constant γ in the (v=0, N=0) molecular state is 240(10) kHz. Limits have been set on the variation of γ with R, the internuclear separation, over the range R=9 to 13 bohr.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Feb 1, 1976•20 citations

Experimental determination of the spin-rotation coupling in Na-Xe molecules

M. Hou, B. Feng, J. Zhang +3 more

A theory for calculating the spin–rotation coupling coefficient in alkali-metal–noble-gas van der Waals molecules was recently presented.1 It assumes the spin–rotation interaction in alkali-metal–noble-gas molecules to be mainly due to the spin–orbit interaction of the alkali-metal valence electron within the core of the noble gas, and predicts that the spin–rotation constant γ should depend on the spin–orbit interaction in the noble gas and be almost independent of the spin–orbit interaction of the alkali-metal atom. Experimentally, only a few of the possible pairs of the different alkali-metal atoms with different noble-gas atoms have been investigated. By measuring the sodium spin relaxation rate as a function of the helium buffer-gas pressure and the width of the sodium magnetic slowing-down curve, we report in this paper our experimentally determined value of the spin–rotation interaction constant in Na–Xe molecules γ = (1.1 ± 0.3)MHz. The measured value is nearly the same as was measured in K–Xe, Rb–Xe, and Cs–Xe.1 This result shows a reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction.

International Laser Science Conference•Jan 1, 1986•0 citations

Argon-induced g -factor shift in potassium

Richard R. Freeman, William E. Cooke

The $g$ factor of the $^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ Van der Waals molecule KAr has been measured relative to the $g$ factor of free potassium using molecular-beam magnetic-resonance techniques. A theoretical treatment of the $g$ factor of the molecule is presented that predicts the $g$ factor to be shifted from the value for the free potassium atom by an amount proportional to the ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\gamma}}{B}$, where $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and $B$ are the spin-rotational and rotational constants of the molecule, respectively. The experimental results show the molecular $g$ factor to be less than the value for free potassium by approximately 25 ppm, in agreement with the prediction.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1976•6 citations

Polarization of the nuclear spins of noble-gas atoms by spin exchange with optically pumped alkali-metal atoms

W. Happer, E. Miron, S. Schaefer +3 more

The theory of spin exchange between optically pumped alkali-metal atoms and noble-gas nuclei is presented. Spin exchange with heavy noble gases is dominated by interactions in long-lived van der Waals molecules. The main spin interactions are assumed to be the spin-rotation interactions $\ensuremath{\gamma}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ between the rotational angular momentum $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}$ of the alkali-metal---noble-gas pair and the electron spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ of the alkali-metal atom, and the contact hyperfine interaction $\ensuremath{\alpha}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{K}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ between the nuclear spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{K}}$ of the noble-gas atom and the electron spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$. Arbitrary values for $K$ and for the nuclear spin $I$ of the alkali-metal atom are assumed. Precise formal expressions for spin transfer coefficients are given along with convenient approximations based on a perturbation expansion in powers of ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\alpha}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}N})}^{2}$, a quantity which has been shown to be small by experiment.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1984•468 citations

Determination of spin-exchange parameters between optically pumped rubidium and Kr83

S. R. Schaefer, G. D. Cates, W. Happer

The spin-exchange rates due to binary collisions and due to the formation of van der Waals molecules between $^{83}\mathrm{Kr}$ nuclei and optically pumped rubidium-metal vapor have been determined using a technique that relies on the simultaneous observation of frequency shifts of nuclear magnetic resonance lines of noble-gas atoms and corresponding frequency shifts of electron paramagnetic resonance lines of alkali-metal atoms. In contrast, earlier studies have relied on the observation of the spin-relaxation rate of either the alkali-metal atoms or the noble-gas atoms.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1990•30 citations
We have investigated the spin-rotation interaction in the van der Waals molecule RbKr using molecular-beam magnetic-resonance techniques. The bound 2\ensuremathΣ^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}2\ensuremathΣ molecules were produced in an expansion-cooled molecular beam and the interaction between the electronic spin angular momentum (\ensuremathℏS\ensuremath→\ensuremath{\hbar}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}\ensuremathℏS\ensuremath→​) of the rubidium valence electron and the rotational angular momentum (\ensuremathℏN\ensuremath→\ensuremath{\hbar}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}\ensuremathℏN\ensuremath→​) of the molecule was probed by magnetic resonance. A value for the strength of the interaction and a model of its dependence upon the internuclear separation were obtained. Results of numerical calculations of all bound and quasibound vibrational-rotational states of the RbKr ground-state potential are presented. These wave functions permit a detailed comparison of the results obtained by this technique and those obtained by M. Bouchiat et al. using optical-pumping techniques in a high-temperature gas cell. Excellent agreement is obtained when all of the relevant molecular states are considered.
We report a study, by molecular beam methods, of the alkali–rare gas van der Waals molecule KAr. Paramagnetic potassium–argon molecules were produced in a supersonic molecular beam, and their magnetic hyperfine structure probed by resonance techniques. The principle interaction studied is the spin–rotational coupling of the spin angular momentum h/S of the alkali valence electron and the rotational angular momentum h/N of the molecule. The measured value of the interaction constant γ in the (v=0, N=0) molecular state is 240(10) kHz. Limits have been set on the variation of γ with R, the internuclear separation, over the range R=9 to 13 bohr.
A theory for calculating the spin–rotation coupling coefficient in alkali-metal–noble-gas van der Waals molecules was recently presented.1 It assumes the spin–rotation interaction in alkali-metal–noble-gas molecules to be mainly due to the spin–orbit interaction of the alkali-metal valence electron within the core of the noble gas, and predicts that the spin–rotation constant γ should depend on the spin–orbit interaction in the noble gas and be almost independent of the spin–orbit interaction of the alkali-metal atom. Experimentally, only a few of the possible pairs of the different alkali-metal atoms with different noble-gas atoms have been investigated. By measuring the sodium spin relaxation rate as a function of the helium buffer-gas pressure and the width of the sodium magnetic slowing-down curve, we report in this paper our experimentally determined value of the spin–rotation interaction constant in Na–Xe molecules γ = (1.1 ± 0.3)MHz. The measured value is nearly the same as was measured in K–Xe, Rb–Xe, and Cs–Xe.1 This result shows a reasonable agreement with the theoretical prediction.
The ggg factor of the $^{2}\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ Van der Waals molecule KAr has been measured relative to the ggg factor of free potassium using molecular-beam magnetic-resonance techniques. A theoretical treatment of the ggg factor of the molecule is presented that predicts the ggg factor to be shifted from the value for the free potassium atom by an amount proportional to the ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\gamma}}{B}$, where $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and BBB are the spin-rotational and rotational constants of the molecule, respectively. The experimental results show the molecular ggg factor to be less than the value for free potassium by approximately 25 ppm, in agreement with the prediction.
The theory of spin exchange between optically pumped alkali-metal atoms and noble-gas nuclei is presented. Spin exchange with heavy noble gases is dominated by interactions in long-lived van der Waals molecules. The main spin interactions are assumed to be the spin-rotation interactions $\ensuremath{\gamma}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ between the rotational angular momentum $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}}$ of the alkali-metal---noble-gas pair and the electron spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ of the alkali-metal atom, and the contact hyperfine interaction $\ensuremath{\alpha}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{K}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$ between the nuclear spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{K}}$ of the noble-gas atom and the electron spin $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}$. Arbitrary values for KKK and for the nuclear spin III of the alkali-metal atom are assumed. Precise formal expressions for spin transfer coefficients are given along with convenient approximations based on a perturbation expansion in powers of ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\alpha}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}N})}^{2}$, a quantity which has been shown to be small by experiment.
The spin-exchange rates due to binary collisions and due to the formation of van der Waals molecules between 83Kr^{83}\mathrm{Kr}83Kr nuclei and optically pumped rubidium-metal vapor have been determined using a technique that relies on the simultaneous observation of frequency shifts of nuclear magnetic resonance lines of noble-gas atoms and corresponding frequency shifts of electron paramagnetic resonance lines of alkali-metal atoms. In contrast, earlier studies have relied on the observation of the spin-relaxation rate of either the alkali-metal atoms or the noble-gas atoms.