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Physical Review A

Orientation and alignment relaxation of the 3P2 states of sodium measured at high vapor densities

A.L.J. Burgmans

Published May 1, 1979• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Orientation and alignment relaxation cross sections have been obtained for the $3^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}$ and $3^{2}P_{\frac{3}{2}}$ states of sodium by measuring resonance broadening of Hanle-effect signals at vapor densities up to about ${10}^{15}$ atoms/${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$. In order to avoid reabsorption of the resonantly scattered light, the Hanle effect is measured in a region close to the wall of a specially constructed vapor cell. The width of the Hanle-effect signals is found to vary linearly with vapor density. The resulting cross sections for orientation and alignment relaxation are compared with theory.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.19.1954

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