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

Binary formation of NaNe quasibound molecules observed in spin relaxation of Na

F. A. Franz, A. Sieradzan

Published Mar 1, 1984• 8 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quasibound NaNe molecules are shown to contribute strongly to the spin relaxation of Na optically pumped in the presence of Ne. Molecules formed in two-body (tunneling) collisions are distinguished from those formed in three-body collisions. The cross section for the collisional breakup of the quasibound complexes has been measured to be 3 \ensuremath{'} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.29.1599

Related papers

Response to ‘‘Comment on ‘Binary formation of NaNe quasibound molecules observed in spin relaxation in Na’ ’’

F. A. Franz, A. Sieradzan

We discuss several points not considered in the preceding Comment on our earlier work, which tend to refute the Comment.Received 26 November 1984DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.31.4022©1985 American Physical Society

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1985•2 citations

Comment on ‘‘Binary formation of NaNe quasibound molecules observed in spin relaxation of Na’’

W. Happer

A factor of about ${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}6}$ has been omitted from a key formula of the recent paper of F. A. Franz and A. Sieradzan [Phys. Rev. A 29, 1599 (1984)]. The arguments of the paper are also inconsistent with the principle of detailed balance.

Physical Review A•Jun 1, 1985•5 citations

Spin relaxation of rubidium atoms in sudden and quasimolecular collisions with light-noble-gas atoms

F. A. Franz, C. H. Volk

Spin relaxation of optically pumped ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$ and ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$ atoms colliding with light-noble-gas atoms is shown to be strongly influenced by an anomalous relaxation process which we attribute to the formation and destruction of bound and quasibound Van der Waals molecules. The anomalous relaxation rate has been measured and analyzed in Ne, complementing an earlier study in He. Relative rates of formation of complexes in two- and three-body collisions have been determined. The correlation time for the quasimolecular interaction in Rb-Ne has been found to be 6.7 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ ${p}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ sec, where $p$ is the Ne pressure in Torr. Nuclear-spin-independent cross sections for the relaxation of $〈{S}_{z}〉$ in sudden binary collisions of Rb atoms with noble-gas atoms have been measured to be (units of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$: $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=3.1$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=19$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ar})=630$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{N}}_{2})=83$. Relaxation in sudden binary collisions is shown to follow the theoretically expected nuclear spin dynamics: two relaxation rates in the ratios 8:1 for ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$ and 18:1 for ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$ have been measured. Diffusion coefficients of Rb in the various buffer gases have been measured to be (units of ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/ sec, at 305\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K): ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=0.42$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=0.235$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ar})=0.16$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{N}}_{2})=0.16$. Nuclear-spin-independent cross sections for the relaxation of $〈{J}_{z}〉$ in the $5^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}$ state of Rb have been measured to be 3.4 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ for Rb-He, and 5.9 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ for Rb-Ne. Anomalies, disagreements, and puzzles occurring in earlier measurements of ground-state relaxation in Rb are shown to be largely resolved when considered in the light of the new results.

Physical Review A•Nov 1, 1976•55 citations

Role of Na-Xe molecules in spin relaxation of optically pumped Na in Xe gas

Natarajan D. Bhaskar, M. Hou, Martin Ligare +2 more

A mixture of dense sodium vapor (number density [Na] \ensuremath{\sim} ${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$), and buffer gases helium, xenon, and nitrogen is optically pumped to a high degree of spin polarization using a single-frequency single-mode tunable dye laser. The relaxation in the "dark" of the variables $〈{S}_{z}〉$ and $〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{I}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}〉$ is studied as a function of [Na] and buffergas pressures. For lower helium pressures (46-torr helium and 2-torr Xe) the dominant contribution to the relaxation of $〈{S}_{z}〉$ in the presence of Xe comes from the "sticking" three-body collisions with He acting as the third body. This is further confirmed by studying the longitudinal magnetic field dependence of the spin-relaxation rate. At higher helium pressures (He 700 torr, and Xe 2 torr) the relaxation of $〈{S}_{z}〉$ in the presence of Xe is mainly due to the "sudden" binary collisions between the Na and Xe, and the relaxation rate of $〈{S}_{z}〉$ is independent of the longitudinal magnetic field. Significant hyperfine pumping is achieved by proper tuning of the laser. The temperature dependence of the relaxation of $〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{I}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}〉$ and $〈{S}_{z}〉$ is also discussed.

Physical Review A•Dec 1, 1980•16 citations

Electronic spin relaxation of the 4S122 state of K induced by K-He and K-Ne collisions

F. A. Franz, C. H. Volk

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 $4^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}$ ground state of K are $\ensuremath{\sigma}[\ensuremath{\gamma}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}})](\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=8.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and $\ensuremath{\sigma}[\ensuremath{\gamma}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}})](\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=141\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. The diffusion coefficients of K in He and Ne, corrected to 273 K, are ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=0.35$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=0.19$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. All measurements have an estimated uncertainty of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}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.

Physical Review A•Jul 1, 1982•21 citations

Detection and Lifetime Measurement of Rb-He Quasibound Molecules

F. A. Franz, C. H. Volk

Quasibound Rb-He Van der Waals molecules have been observed through their influence on the electron spin relaxation of optically pumped ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}$ and ${\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}$. The natural lifetime of the complex has been measured to be 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec.

Physical Review Letters•Dec 22, 1975•10 citations
Quasibound NaNe molecules are shown to contribute strongly to the spin relaxation of Na optically pumped in the presence of Ne. Molecules formed in two-body (tunneling) collisions are distinguished from those formed in three-body collisions. The cross section for the collisional breakup of the quasibound complexes has been measured to be 3 \ensuremath{'} 10\ensuremath−13{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}10\ensuremath−13 cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2.
Spin relaxation of optically pumped Rb85{\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}Rb85 and Rb87{\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}Rb87 atoms colliding with light-noble-gas atoms is shown to be strongly influenced by an anomalous relaxation process which we attribute to the formation and destruction of bound and quasibound Van der Waals molecules. The anomalous relaxation rate has been measured and analyzed in Ne, complementing an earlier study in He. Relative rates of formation of complexes in two- and three-body collisions have been determined. The correlation time for the quasimolecular interaction in Rb-Ne has been found to be 6.7 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ ${p}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ sec, where ppp is the Ne pressure in Torr. Nuclear-spin-independent cross sections for the relaxation of 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 in sudden binary collisions of Rb atoms with noble-gas atoms have been measured to be (units of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}24}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2: $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=3.1$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=19$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ar})=630$ $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{N}}_{2})=83$. Relaxation in sudden binary collisions is shown to follow the theoretically expected nuclear spin dynamics: two relaxation rates in the ratios 8:1 for Rb87{\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}Rb87 and 18:1 for Rb85{\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}Rb85 have been measured. Diffusion coefficients of Rb in the various buffer gases have been measured to be (units of cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2/ sec, at 305\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K): ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=0.42$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=0.235$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ar})=0.16$, ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{Rb}\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{N}}_{2})=0.16$. Nuclear-spin-independent cross sections for the relaxation of 〈Jz〉〈{J}_{z}〉〈Jz​〉 in the 52P125^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}52P21​​ state of Rb have been measured to be 3.4 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 for Rb-He, and 5.9 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 for Rb-Ne. Anomalies, disagreements, and puzzles occurring in earlier measurements of ground-state relaxation in Rb are shown to be largely resolved when considered in the light of the new results.
A mixture of dense sodium vapor (number density [Na] \ensuremath{\sim} 1013{10}^{13}1013 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$), and buffer gases helium, xenon, and nitrogen is optically pumped to a high degree of spin polarization using a single-frequency single-mode tunable dye laser. The relaxation in the "dark" of the variables 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 and $〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{I}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}〉$ is studied as a function of [Na] and buffergas pressures. For lower helium pressures (46-torr helium and 2-torr Xe) the dominant contribution to the relaxation of 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 in the presence of Xe comes from the "sticking" three-body collisions with He acting as the third body. This is further confirmed by studying the longitudinal magnetic field dependence of the spin-relaxation rate. At higher helium pressures (He 700 torr, and Xe 2 torr) the relaxation of 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 in the presence of Xe is mainly due to the "sudden" binary collisions between the Na and Xe, and the relaxation rate of 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 is independent of the longitudinal magnetic field. Significant hyperfine pumping is achieved by proper tuning of the laser. The temperature dependence of the relaxation of $〈\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{I}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{S}〉$ and 〈Sz〉〈{S}_{z}〉〈Sz​〉 is also discussed.
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 42S124^{2}S_{\frac{1}{2}}42S21​​ ground state of K are $\ensuremath{\sigma}[\ensuremath{\gamma}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}})](\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=8.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 and $\ensuremath{\sigma}[\ensuremath{\gamma}(\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{N}})](\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=141\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}25}$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2. The diffusion coefficients of K in He and Ne, corrected to 273 K, are ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{He})=0.35$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and ${D}_{0}(\mathrm{K}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ne})=0.19$ cm2{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}cm2 ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. All measurements have an estimated uncertainty of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}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.
Quasibound Rb-He Van der Waals molecules have been observed through their influence on the electron spin relaxation of optically pumped Rb85{\mathrm{Rb}}^{85}Rb85 and Rb87{\mathrm{Rb}}^{87}Rb87. The natural lifetime of the complex has been measured to be 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}$ sec.