Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Selectivity with respect to the orbital polarization in the energy-pooling process with sodium atoms

I. Yu. Yurova

Published Mar 28, 1995• 9 citations

Abstract

Cross sections sigma (m 1 m 2 ) nl for the energy pooling processes in the collision between two excited sodium atoms are calculated for the case when the partners are prepared in the 3p-excited states with the definite orbital momentum projections m 1 and m 2 . As a result of the process one of the colliding atoms comes to the ground state and the other partner is excited to nl state with nl=5s, 4d, 4f. The collision velocity is equal to or higher than thermal. The Landau-Zener-locking model (LZ-locking) is developed: the sudden change of the type of the coupling between the electron orbital momentum and the internuclear axis (the locking approximation) is combined with the multicrossing Landau-Zener model. The validity of the LZ-locking model is analysed. The results show strong cross section dependence on the initial quantum numbers m 1 and m 2 , especially in the 5s channel.

DOI: 10.1088/0953-4075/28/6/015

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