Journal de physique
Relaxation of the sodium atom in the 4D level by collisions with noble gases. I. Experimental aspects
F. Biraben, K. Béroff, G. Grynberg, E. Giacobino
Abstract
The sodium atom is excited selectively in the 4D3/2 or 4D 5/2 level using Doppler-free two-photon absorption. We analyse the fluorescence in intensity and polarization in presence of noble gas atoms. We measure the cross-sections corresponding to the transfer of population between 4D3/2 and 4D5/2 and between 4D and 4F, the relaxation of alignment in both fine sublevels and the transfer of alignment. In particular, we have observed a transfer of alignment in the case of helium and neon perturbers.